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 UK weather patterns on crop production in 2025.

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

We publish annual harvest estimates. Provisional estimates of cereal and oilseed rape production covering the 2025 harvest in England were published on 9 October 2025: Cereal and oilseed rape production - GOV.UK.

Initial good weather meant that the 2025 harvest progressed quickly, with many growers finishing ahead of a typical year. However, in September, wet weather hindered the ability to harvest remaining crops towards the end of the season, resulting in a mixed picture across the country with considerable variability in yield between regions.

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 3 July 2025 to UIN 62951, what progress she has made on incorporating method-of-production labelling reform into the development of animal welfare and food strategies; and if she will publish a timetable for implementation.

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

This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. In the food strategy we identified 10 priority outcomes, including ensuring that food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards.

The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy this year. We have considered key priorities for animal welfare in the development of the strategy and will set these out in the strategy upon publication.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of (a) named day questions and (b) ordinary written questions were responded to by her Department within the required timescale in (i) May 2025, (ii) June 2025, (iii) July 2025, (iv) August 2025, (v) September 2025, (vi) October 2025 and (vii) November 2025.

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

The Government recognises the importance of the effective and timely handling of written parliamentary questions (PQs).

Defra’s performance statistics for Named Day and Ordinary Written PQs from May to November 2025 are in the table below. These are the percentages published on time for the case types and time periods requested.

Please note that due to summer recess, no Named Day or Ordinary Written Parliamentary Questions to Defra were due during the month of August.

The House of Commons Procedure Committee monitors departmental PQ performance and publishes a report of the Governments consolidated PQ data following the end of each session.

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 further information on a re-designed scheme to replace the Sustainable Farming Incentive, including; a) eligibility, b) payment rates, c) environmental/biodiversity and, d) water-quality requirements, as well as the application windows.

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

At the CLA Conference in November, the Secretary of State set out her ambition to open an improved Sustainable Farming Incentive in the first half of 2026. The Government will publish scheme details, including timings and eligibility criteria, before the scheme opens giving farmers time to plan.

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 introduce requirements for veterinary practices to display in-clinic and online information about ownership beyond listings on the RCVS website.

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

Defra welcomes the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) market investigation into veterinary services for household pets and continues to engage with the CMA throughout this process. The CMA’s responsibilities include enforcing the law against anti-competitive practices and investigating mergers that could reduce competition. The CMA are currently reviewing the results of the consultation on their Provisional Decision Report which includes introducing requirements for veterinary practices to be open about their ownership. Defra will be responding to the CMA’s final report following its publication in Spring 2026 and will be consulting on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 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, if her Department will publish a consolidated timetable for forthcoming environmental, biodiversity, water-regulation, land-use and planning-related legislation and statutory instruments for 2025–2028.

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

The Department will continue to bring forward legislation when parliamentary time allows. Any public commitments to legislate will follow the procedures set out by the Parliamentary Business and Legislation (PBL) Cabinet Committee.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the release of beavers at Greathough Brook in the Forest of Dean, on the ability of the land to retain water and prevent flooding in nearby residential areas.

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

Forestry England worked with experts at the Beaver Trust to introduce beavers within an enclosure at the Forest of Dean. One of the aims of the project was to hold stormwater flow back to mitigate against future flooding downstream. Forestry England commissioned the University of Exeter to carry out an impact assessment relating to beaver activity and natural flood management which was published in 2020. This is publicly available at Hydrological Processes | Hydrology Journal | Wiley Online Library and a copy is attached to this answer.

The study found that the introduction of beavers had a beneficial effect on flow attenuation during storm events.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has she made of the implications for UK waste disposal and consumer product policy of the levels of unwanted electrical items discarded annually by households which could be reused or repaired.

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

We have not undertaken this assessment. The WEEE Regulations 2013 are designed to minimise the amount of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) incinerated or sent to landfill sites. The regulations require producers of electrical equipment to take financial responsibility for products they place on the market when they become waste and to ensure they are properly collected and treated. The Government is committed to move towards a Circular Economy where we keep products in use for longer and waste is designed out. In the new year, we will publish the Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how the Government will deliver this transition in sectors right across the economy, including electricals.

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 increases in the frequency of severe weather events on flood management infrastructure in Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.

The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.

The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.

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 adequacy of levels of local authority preparedness to respond to flood alerts in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.

The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.

The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.

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 feasibility test introduced under the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025 on the designation of sites.

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

This Government’s reforms introduce a feasibility assessment that will consider these factors ahead of formal designation. This will focus resources on sites where water quality can feasibly be improved to ‘sufficient’ standard and allow the public to make informed decisions before using sites.

This feasibility assessment is being designed by an external research organisation in partnership with Defra and the Welsh Government. Two workshops took place in November 2025 to capture stakeholder views.

This reform will come into force on 15 May 2026, and we will update public guidance before then, ahead of future applications being submitted.

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 number of waste-processing facilities currently operating with expired permits.

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

Environmental Permitting Regulations require operators of industrial/waste facilities to get permits from regulators to control pollution to air, land, and water, ensuring compliance with set conditions, and protecting public health through legal frameworks. Waste management site permits do not expire; they have to be surrendered by the permit holder. Therefore, there are no sites operating with expired permits.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate the Department has made of the volume of plastic packaging placed on the UK market in the last year.

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

For 2024, there are two available estimates for the volume of plastic packing placed on the market for the UK. These estimates are based on different methodologies and data sources (PackFlow and Reported Packaging Data) and so produce slightly different figures.

PackFlow is a report commissioned by Defra to provide information on the total flows of packaging in the UK and has historically been used to estimate the total amount of material placed on the market.

The Reported Packaging Data provides new data on total packaging supplied and placed on the UK market and became available after the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) came into force on 1 January 2025.

Table1: Estimates of the volume of plastic packaging placed on the market, UK

Note: The arisings data sourced from the Reported Packaging Data system is based on data for H1 and H2 for 2024 (as submitted in October 2024 and April 2025). Data as of 2 June 2025

The full methodology and figures relating to previous years, can be found in the UK Statistics on Waste publication.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Department is taking to improve enforcement against illegal waste dumping.

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

We will reform the waste carriers, brokers and dealers regime and the waste permit exemptions regime. This will make it harder for rogue operators to find work in the sector and easier for regulators to take action against criminals. In addition, our planned digital waste tracking reforms will make it harder than ever to mis-identify waste or dispose of it inappropriately.

The Environment Agency’s (EA) total budget for 2025 to 2026 has increased and includes £15.6m for waste crime enforcement. This is a more than 50% increase from 2024/25. Overall, the EA has been able to increase its frontline criminal enforcement resource in the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and area environmental crime teams by 43 full-time staff. This resource will target activities that are waste crime priorities and will make best use of enforcement activity data and criminal intelligence to do so. Activities include tackling organised crime groups, increasing enforcement activity around specific areas of concern such as landfill sites, closing down illegal waste sites more quickly, using intelligence more effectively, and delivering successful major criminal investigations.

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 accelerate tree planting to meet statutory environmental targets.

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

The Government is investing £1 billion in tree planting and support to the forestry sector over this parliament. Tree planting in England is at the highest recorded rate in over 20 years, with over 7,100 hectares planted in 2024/25. As part of this investment the government is delivering on the manifesto commitment to create three new national forests and will fund tree planting across England, through Woodland Creation Partnerships and Forestry Commission grants, while also providing wider sector support. This support includes investing in apprenticeships and tree nurseries, ensuring we have the skills and jobs we need and a supply of healthy seeds and trees to create the forests of the future.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

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

As of December 2025, around 41% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) features are in favourable condition across all of England, and the percentage in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition is around 62%.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) published on 1 December sets out our ambition to bring 75% of SSSIs into favourable condition by 2042.

In the EIP, we have also set an interim target for 50% of SSSI features to have actions on track to achieve favourable condition by December 2030, which will support the achievement of the 2042 ambition.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department has formal requirements for suppliers receiving support to report on waste-reduction outcomes.

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

We are responding on the basis that this question relates to reporting under the Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme and the Packaging Waste Recycling Note (PRN) system for domestic waste, and specifically on the support that obligated producers may receive in meeting the reporting requirements under these regulations.

Under the pEPR regulations, producers are required to report detailed data on the packaging they place on the UK market, including material types and tonnages. This reporting underpins the calculation of fees and recycling obligations (PRNs) and ensures that costs for household packaging waste management are recovered in line with the polluter pays principle. These obligations are designed to incentivise waste reduction by linking fees to recyclability and packaging weight, with modulation of fees from 2026 to further encourage sustainable packaging choices.

Similarly, the PRN system requires accredited reprocessors and exporters to issue evidence notes for packaging waste that has been recycled. These notes form part of the compliance mechanism for meeting recycling targets and provide transparency on the amount of packaging waste recovered and recycled within the UK.

Under the regulations, obligated producers may receive support from compliance schemes in meeting their reporting obligations and recycling targets. Regulation 43 of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024 specifies the obligations of compliance schemes, and Schedule 6 outlines the approvals framework ensuring schemes are able to provide guidance and assistance to producers. This ensures producers have access to help in fulfilling their legal responsibilities effectively.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much OFWAT has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years.

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

Ofwat has spent a total of £74,983 on translation and interpretation services in the last five financial years. This expenditure is for translating key documents into Welsh given Ofwat’s role as the water regulator for England and Wales.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate the Department has made of the total cost of river restoration projects undertaken in the last financial year.

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

The Water Restoration Fund was launched in April 2024. It is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment.

Natural England supports and advises the Rural Payments Agency and the Environment Agency on administration of funds for river restoration, ensuring we get the greatest value for money in terms of nature recovery and wider societal benefits.

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 Cabinet colleagues about tackling illegal waste sites in a) Staffordshire and b) England.

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

The Secretary of State meets regularly with Cabinet colleagues and discusses a wide range of issues including tackling illegal waste sites and other kinds of waste crime. I hold similar discussions on a regular basis with the Environment Agency.

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 trends in the level of biodiversity loss over the last 12 months.

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

Defra does not have data on biodiversity loss covering the most recent 12‑month period. However, a range of official publications and monitoring frameworks provide the latest picture of biodiversity trends and the government’s most recent assessment of progress, such as Indicators of species abundance in England, England biodiversity indicators, and Wild bird and Butterfly statistics.

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 work with the UK’s zoos and aquariums to provide opportunities for conservation translocations and the reintroduction of native species as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

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

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires zoos in Great Britain to undertake conservation work which can include where appropriate, the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals. Defra is committed to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species where the benefits for the environment and people are clear.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish (1) the Land Use Framework, and (2) the Water White Paper.

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

The Government consulted on land use in England from January to April this year. The responses are informing the preparation of the Land Use Framework.

The Government will respond to the Independent Water Commission's recommendations through a White Paper.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to address extreme flooding.

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

Over the last year, this Government has made significant progress by committing record investment in flood and coastal erosion defences; introducing the most significant change in flood and coastal erosion funding policy for nearly fifteen years; and building partnerships to improve flood preparedness and resilience.

As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, we are investing £4.2 billion over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to construct new flood and coastal erosion schemes and maintain and repair existing defences across England. In our first year in Government, 151 flood defence schemes have been delivered, better protecting over 24,000 homes and businesses.

This Government will invest at least £10.5 billion into our flood defences between April 2024 and March 2036 benefitting nearly 900,000 properties across England.

The Environment Agency’s National Flood Risk Assessment data now includes climate change scenarios, providing the best evidence to inform long-term risk assessment and the development of flood mitigation strategies.

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 publish a cross-government nature strategy, including requiring all departments to have a duty to consider nature.

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

Defra plans to publish the Cross Government Nature Strategy (CGNS) in March 2026.

Under the Environment Act 2021, the Biodiversity Duty established in s40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 was strengthened. This requires all government departments to identify and implement actions to conserve and enhance biodiversity, consistent with the exercise of their function.

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 consider the potential merits of developing a stand alone waste crime strategy.

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

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. The Government convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help map that transition; in the new year we will publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy.

Waste crime threatens this by undermining waste businesses and by taking resources away from that circular economy. The priority is to focus on tangible action to address waste crime, including working with the Environment Agency to drive improvements, swift delivery of our planned reforms and our transition to a circular economy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of potential flood risk arising from heavy rainfall in (a) Surrey and (b) Surrey Heath constituency.

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

Across all catchments in the Thames area, including those in Surrey and Surrey Heath, the Environment Agency (EA) continues to monitor potential flood risk, and its field staff have undertaken flood runs clearing debris.

The Surrey Local Resilience Forum (LRF) brings together all agencies, including local authorities, with a significant role to play in responding to and recovering from the effects of emergencies, such as flooding. LRFs aim to plan and prepare for localised incidents and catastrophic emergencies. The EA works closely with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of Surrey LRF that looks at flood resilience across the wider county.

The EA has recently produced new flood risk modelling of the Addlestone Bourne catchment. This was published as part of wider improvements earlier this year, providing greater understanding of the flood risk posed to our communities.

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 reservoir storage capacity in England (a) is in 2025 and (b) was in (i) 2020 and (ii) 2015.

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

The total capacity of reservoirs for all purposes in England, as per the public register of large raised reservoirs of over 25,000m3, which is managed by the Environment Agency.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the Explanatory Memorandum on European Commission Work programme for 2026, published on 17 November, what assessment they have made of the impact the "Buy European Food" campaign will have on the export of UK foods, and how that campaign complies with EU–UK treaties.

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

The UK and the EU are each other’s largest agrifood trade partners. In 2024, 57% (£14.1bn) of UK agri-food exports were to EU countries and 72% (£45.5bn) of UK agri-food imports were from EU countries. This trade is critical to the UK economy and food security.

The government is negotiating a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers.

The GREAT food and drink campaign, led by Defra, has been successfully promoting UK food and drink exports products globally under UK government’s GREAT Campaign brand since 2017.

The department awaits further details of the EU’s “Buy European Food” campaign, expected in 2026.

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 stop companies from using biobeads.

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

Polluting our waterways is unacceptable. It is right that Southern Water has taken responsibility for the incident at Camber Sands, East Sussex, caused by a failure of a screening filter at their Eastbourne Wastewater Treatment Works.

Defra Ministers are in close contact with the Environment Agency, which is now conducting an active investigation into the incident. A decision on the enforcement action will be made in the coming weeks.

The sector must step up to deliver improvements for the benefit of customers and the environment, and we are taking decisive action to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.

Water companies should take all necessary precautions to ensure all equipment is properly constructed and maintained to prevent the unauthorised or accidental escape of bio-beads from wastewater treatment works into the environment.

The Government is looking into developing new standards for infrastructure resilience which, coupled with robust water company planning through Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans and the new statutory Pollution Incident Reduction Plans, will drive investment to improve wastewater assets and reduce pollution into our environment.

I have written to Water Companies asking them to explain their use of bio-beads in the water industry and alternatives.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment the Department has made of the effectiveness of policies to protect pollinator populations.

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

Following the conclusion of our National Pollinator Strategy in 2024, Defra will deliver a refreshed Pollinator Action Plan, as part of the broader Environmental Improvement Plan. This will set out key actions for pollinators in England.

Defra partly funds the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (UK PoMS) providing systematic data on the abundance of key pollinators at a national scale. This data contributes to measuring trends in pollinator populations and targets conservation efforts.

The Health and Safety Executive has published updated guidance for emergency authorisations of pesticides. This is the next step in delivering on the commitment the government made in December 2024 to end the use of banned neonicotinoid pesticides in England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce water bills for (a) households and (b) businesses in South Holland and the Deepings constituency.

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

Bill payers are understandably concerned that bills have risen. For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population, and climate change. Over the next four years, water companies will deliver substantial and enduring improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector. This investment will accelerate improvements in infrastructure to meet these challenges, secure our water supply, and to meet new environmental requirements.

We are working to ensure that both business and household consumers can reduce their bills through decreasing their usage, including by pursuing a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label, smart meter rollout acceleration and a review of water efficiency standards in the Building Regulations.

All companies have measures in place for customers struggling to pay for water and wastewater services, and the Government expects industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure customers across the country are supported.

It is important that support is targeted at the most vulnerable. We have therefore acted decisively by consulting on reforms to WaterSure, which caps bills for low-income households in England with higher essential water use due to a medical condition or a large family. The Government also doubled compensation payments paid to consumers for service failures through the Guaranteed Standards Scheme.

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 introduce the activity regulations for the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

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

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

We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27th May to Baroness Hayman’s letter, when her Department expects to introduce legislation to enact a ban on trail hunting, and whether a timeline has been agreed for this work.

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. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and we will consult on how to deliver a ban in the new year. Legislation will be introduced 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, whether her department plans to consider a legally binding target to increase the proportion of food that is UK-grown and eaten in Britain.

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

We have no plans for a legally binding food production target. In 2024 we were 65% self-sufficient for all food; 77% for food we can produce here – a balance that has been stable for many years. As we develop plans to support delivery of the food strategy outcomes, we are focussed on securing resilient domestic production that supports good growth and enhances domestic food security.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to encourage public bodies to prioritise the purchase of produce from (a) South Holland and the Deepings constituency and (b) Lincolnshire.

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

This Government has set a clear ambition for half of all food purchased across the public sector to be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards within legal constraints. The Government is undertaking work to ensure we can deliver on this ambition, including to improve our understanding of what food the public sector currently buys and where it comes from. The Government has already published a new national procurement policy statement which sets expectations for Government contracts to favour products certified to higher environmental standards. The Government believes that high-quality British producers, including those based in South Holland and the Deepings constituency and Lincolnshire, will be well-placed to meet these standards.

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 conduct a sustainability review of spurdog measures before reopening the fishery.

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

The UK and EU agreed to reopen fishing for spurdog in UK and EU waters in 2023 during annual consultations for that fishing year. That agreement was reached following consideration of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas positive scientific advice for the stock, which demonstrated the stock’s recovery in response to management measures.

The UK’s approach to negotiations aims to balance environmental sustainability alongside consideration of the social and economic aspects of fishing, consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020, the Joint Fisheries Statement, and other legal commitments, as well as shared objectives with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

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 has she held with UK a) wholesale suppliers b) distributors and c) the farming community on supporting UK agricultural and horticultural supply chains.

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

The Secretary of State has many discussions with a range of stakeholders. The Government’s commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why we've allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

Defra regularly engages with a farmers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and distributors through a range of forums to discuss issues affecting the food supply chain.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Further to the DEFRA 2024-25 annual report and accounts, HC 1388, 12 November 2025, p.140, what was the title of the staff member who received the exit package of £300,000 to £350,000; what was the public body; on what date it was approved by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; and what was the business case for the level of the exit payment.

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

The exit package relates to Flood Re.

Flood Re is a company limited by guarantee. It does not receive any grant funding from the Government. As such, no Government funding has been spent on exit packages at Flood Re.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment the Department has made of potential food security risks arising from supply chain disruption.

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

The UK has a resilient food supply chain that is well equipped to deal with situations that have the potential to cause disruption. Defra works closely with industry and across Government to identify and monitor food security risks.

In compliance with the Agriculture Act 2020, the United Kingdom Food Security Report (UKFSR) is presented to Parliament at least once every three years, most recently in 2024. This examines past, current, and future trends relevant to food security and presents a full and impartial analysis of UK food security. In the intervening years, the UK Food Security Digest (UKFSD) is published containing a selection of summary statistics on issues relevant to a range of aspects of food security, drawn from national and international sources. This year’s report was published on 11 December 2025.

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 the development of sustainable aquaculture.

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

The Government is committed to supporting sustainable, industry‑led growth of the aquaculture sector through a range of measures.

These include publishing new guidance on seaweed aquaculture regulation this year and offering clarity for businesses and regulators. The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, working with Seafish and industry partners, is centralising aquaculture data for England and Wales to improve transparency and evidence‑based decision making. The Environment Agency continues to regulate wastewater discharges to safeguard waters used for commercial shellfish production.

While many aquaculture issues are devolved, the Government will champion sustainably produced aquaculture products from across the UK internationally. A thriving sector requires a strong trading framework, and the government is committed to building relationships with key trading partners.

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 ger counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to the second outbreak of blue tongue in Portaferry.

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

Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments with the aim of providing, where possible, a consistent and coordinated response across the UK.

Following the first confirmed bluetongue cases in Northern Ireland, Defra is working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to review policy regarding movement of bluetongue susceptible animals between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. This has included a case conference, and a CVO stocktake attended by the chief veterinary officers and policy leads from Defra, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

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 introduce farming payments to help support animal welfare outcomes.

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

Since 2023, farmers in England have been able to access funding through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to improve livestock health and welfare while supporting farm productivity and sustainability. This support covers annual veterinary reviews, disease testing, and capital grants, including the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (which provides animal welfare grants) and the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. To date, we have funded more than 10,000 vet visits. Full details of available support are published on GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the speed of the roll out of the Environmental Land Management Scheme.

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

Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes remain at the centre of our offer for farmers and nature, putting us on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector.

The Department now has more than half of farmers in an ELM scheme, including over 44,500 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements. It is our ambition to reopen SFI in the first half of 2026. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier opened for applications in September 2025 through a controlled rollout. Two pioneering Landscape Recovery projects have now started long-term delivery on the ground.

We are on track to spend the committed £1.8bn, the largest figure ever, on ELM schemes in 2025/26.

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 the financial sustainability of small-scale abattoirs.

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

Defra recognises the important role small-scale abattoirs play in supporting local livestock producers and maintaining a resilient and competitive food supply chain.

Defra works closely with the smaller abattoir industry including through the Small Abattoirs Working Group and the Small Abattoirs Task and Finish Group. These groups bring together government and industry representatives on a regular basis to address issues such as regulation, operational efficiency and access to skilled labour. In doing so, they provide a forum for identifying the challenges and opportunities that the sector faces, and for collaborating on practical solutions to support the sustainability, viability and resilience of small and medium sized abattoirs.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of a connection between poaching and halal butchery.

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

The Government has made no assessment of a connection between poaching and halal butchery.

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 trading arrangements with the European Union on British agri-food exporters.

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

An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16% [Methodology Note: How Defra has estimated the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector - GOV.UK ].

Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU [Quantifying Non-Tariff Measures on GB to EU Agri-Food, Plant Products and Fisheries Trade - WR0717 ]:

• Export Health Certificates cost up to £200 for agri-food goods.
• Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60.
• Organic Certificates of Inspection, required for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average £35.
• Identity check fees on meat and dairy exports adds £31 per load on average.
• For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to £149 per load.
• Additional driver charges, paid to hauliers for border-related friction, typically £200 per shipment.
• Sampling can add approximately £1,200 to a cheese load, £1,400 to a salmon shipment, £440 to a load of apples, and £1,200 to a beef load.

The SPS agreement will significantly reduce these costs. Details are subject to negotiation. The government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.

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 undertaken a cost–benefit analysis of potential changes to sanitary and phytosanitary procedures applying to UK–EU exports.

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

An SPS agreement could increase the volume of UK exports of major agricultural commodities to the EU by 16% [Methodology Note: How Defra has estimated the impact of a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement on the UK agricultural sector - GOV.UK ].

Defra commissioned research highlights significant non-tariff measure costs for exporting GB agri-food and plant products to the EU [Quantifying Non-Tariff Measures on GB to EU Agri-Food, Plant Products and Fisheries Trade - WR0717 ]:

• Export Health Certificates cost up to £200 for agri-food goods.
• Phytosanitary Certificates cost approximately £25 alongside inspection fees of at least £127.60.
• Organic Certificates of Inspection, required for the export of organic lamb and cheese, cost on average £35.
• Identity check fees on meat and dairy exports adds £31 per load on average.
• For beef and salmon, queueing times for checks can add costs of up to £149 per load.
• Additional driver charges, paid to hauliers for border-related friction, typically £200 per shipment.
• Sampling can add approximately £1,200 to a cheese load, £1,400 to a salmon shipment, £440 to a load of apples, and £1,200 to a beef load.

The SPS agreement will significantly reduce these costs. Details are subject to negotiation. The government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes and assess impacts accordingly.

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 farmers with input costs.

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

Whilst it may not reflect all agriculture subsectors, Defra’s Agriculture Price Index (API) data show rises in output costs over time outstripping rises in input costs. We continue to monitor all key agricultural commodities and work with the food industry. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials were investigated under their Department's disciplinary processes in each of the last five years.

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

Defra’s casework data is held for three years from the date of case closure.

Over the last three years, 139 officials were investigated under Defra’s disciplinary process. The 139 cases are broken down into the following:

2022 = 7 disciplinary cases were raised

2023 = 33 disciplinary cases were raised

2024 = 60 disciplinary cases were raised

2025 to date = 39 disciplinary cases have been raised

The information requested for 2020 and 2021 is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has spent on translation and interpretation services in each of the last five years.

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

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s spending on translation and interpretation service was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The below table shows the total cost over the past five years.

This information is in the public domain.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.

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

Sickness absence information in the format requested is not available. The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Civil Service sickness absence in regular reports, which can be found here: Sickness absence in the Civil Service - GOV.UK. The next release is due to be published on 18 December 2025.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they possess a statistical assessment of the social cost of leaving England's water companies in private ownership and, if so, whether they will publish it.

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

This Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable. Defra has not carried out a statistical assessment of the social cost of water companies remaining privatised.

We expect water companies to ensure support is available for customers – through bill discount schemes and financial support measures. We are working with industry to keep support under review and have consulted on reforms to WaterSure. We will publish our response this year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate the Department has made of the proportion of agricultural land participating in Environmental Land Management schemes.

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

50% (4.3m ha) farmed land in England actively managed in schemes, another 14% (1.3m ha) covered by assessments and plans.

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 had discussions with exporters on sanitary and phytosanitary requirements when trading with the European Union.

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

Defra has engaged closely with industry, including exporters, to understand the barriers faced when trading with the EU. Business groups broadly welcomed the announcement in May of the UK and EU’s commitment to work towards an SPS agreement. Defra will continue to engage with industry as we negotiate the agreement with the EU.

It is a priority for this government to deliver clear and timely information, and we recognise the need to support exporters to adapt to new trading arrangements. Defra is taking steps to support industry through the process and communicate forthcoming changes to businesses throughout 2026 to assist business readiness preparations.

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 level of commercial energy costs on Zoos in England, such as Chester and Blackpool Zoos.

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

Defra is responsible for the welfare and management of animals kept by zoos and aquariums, as well as the conservation work zoos and aquariums are required to undertake. However, we remain engaged on cross-cutting matters where relevant and the government is taking decisive action to protect and support businesses, facing difficulties with their energy costs, on multiple fronts.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Veterinary Medicine Working Group plans to meet in January 2026.

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

The Veterinary Medicine Working Group last met on 9 December 2025 and plans to meet next in the early new year when the two schemes that the Government is introducing will be in effect.

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 8 May 2025 to Question 45822 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Equality, if she will publish the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/24724, disclosed on 2 December 2025.

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

The Freedom of Information Act response has been published and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staff-numbers-in-the-hr-equality-diversity-and-inclusion-edi-team-foi202524724.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many performance reviews were undertaken for staff in (a) her Department and (b) its agencies in each of the last five years; in how many such cases performance was rated as unsatisfactory or below; how many staff left as a result of such a rating; and what proportion of full-time equivalent staff this represented.

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

The following table summarises the information held on the total number of performance ratings where these were available, and the number of cases where a rating was unsatisfactory or below. Please note that the policy for performance management has changed over this period. End-year performance ratings were removed for most staff in April 23. From this date performance ratings are only collected for Senior Civil Servants in APHA, RPA, VMD and Core Defra, senior leaders in NE, and all staff in EA.

Additionally, NE ratings for senior leaders are collated by NE directly and are not included in the data below from April 23 onwards.

The reportable data Defra holds does not include the reason for a dismissal and therefore a link to performance rating cannot be made. This limitation means that the requested information on number of staff who left because of a poor performance rating, and the proportion this represents, is not available.

*No ratings available for RPA.

**SCS only for APHA, RPA, VMD, Core Defra, no ratings available for NE.

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

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many statutory management notices have been issued regarding Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the last three years.

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

Since 9 December 2022, Natural England has issued zero Section 28K Management Notices.

The number of pre-requisite Section 28J Management Schemes issued since 2022 is one (issued on 1 July 2024).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the (a) name, (b) job title, (c) annual remuneration, (d) time commitment and (e) expected end date is for each direct ministerial appointment in her Department.

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

There are four current Direct Ministerial Appointees.

Andrew Morlet is Chair of the Circular Economy Taskforce. He is remunerated at £15,600 per year with a time commitment of one day per week. His appointment is due to end on 3 February 2026.

Paul Ekins is Deputy Chair of the Circular Economy Taskforce. He receives £15,600 annually with a time commitment of one day per week. His appointment is due to end on 3 February 2026.

Philip Stocker is the Chair of the Dartmoor Land Management Group. He is paid £20,114.88 per annum with a commitment of four days per month. His appointment ends 28 April 2026.

Peter Troughton is appointed as a Chequers Trustee. This is an unremunerated position, the time commitment is not specified, and the appointment is due to conclude on 16 August 2027.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government is providing additional support to crayfish companies affected by recent changes to licensing requirements.

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

The current licensing requirements have been in place since 2019, and there have been no recent changes. To help businesses adjust at the time, the Government allowed a two-year transition period for licensed exports of live signal crayfish, where import was legal in the destination country. This temporary measure gave businesses time to develop alternative markets such as processed or frozen products.

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

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

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

The UK dairy sector is highly resilient and adaptable and continues to supply healthy and affordable products in spite of the many challenges it has faced in recent years.

This Government recognises that food security is national security, and that it requires a resilient and healthy food system that works with nature and supports farmers. That is why we are introducing new deals for farmers to boost rural economic growth and strengthen food security.

Ensuring fairness in supply chains is key for UK dairy farmers and supporting the sustainability of the sector. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which fully came into force on 9 July 2025, improve fairness and transparency, requiring dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing, termination, and prohibiting unilateral changes.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government the (1) number, and (2) value of grants issued from the Conservation and Enhancement Scheme in the last three years.

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

For the financial years 2023/24 to 2025/26, the number of Conservation Enhancement Scheme (CES) grants issued, and their value is as follows:

Notes:

1) Number issued includes direct land manager agreements and SSSI investigations. The latter establish what work may be required to support actions on SSSIs that may be supported through a subsequent CES agreement with the land manager.

2) Value – this is the total value spent on CES agreements in each year. Some of this value is for multi-year CES agreed in previous years.

3) Figures for 2025/26 are expected end of year figures. However, only around £130k of this is still to be agreed in January 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 the Government is taking to ensure that consumers are provided with sufficient information to make informed choices regarding the method of slaughter used in producing meat sold in UK supermarkets.

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

The Government expects industry to provide consumers with information on which to make an informed choice about their food. Any information provided on the method of slaughter must be accurate and not misleading to the consumer.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons why the Woodlands for Water project delivered 9 per cent of the target hectares of tree planting.

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

The Woodlands for Water project, funded by Defra and delivered by the Riverscapes Partnership, ran from October 2021 to March 2025. At the end of the project, 288 hectares had been planted, with over 2,200 hectares of sites identified for planting. These are being pursued through other means, including through support from Rivers Trust and progressing planting through the Community Forests where appropriate.

Defra reduced funding to the project in financial year 2024/25 and the project is now closed.

Reasons for planting being below target include particular challenges around riparian planting, which typically involves small land parcels with multiple land managers alongside practical challenges of planting alongside linear features such as rivers.

We are continuing to support riparian planting through the England Woodland Creation Offer, which has stackable supplementary payments for woodlands that improve water quality, reduce the risk of flooding, and riparian buffers that improve water habitat. Our Water Environment Improvement Fund also supports targeted woodland creation for water benefits.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate has she made of the number of cider makers operating in the UK.

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

The National Association of Cider Makers, who represent the UK cider industry, estimate that there are 450 cider makers in the UK (2025/2026 Cider Manifesto).

The Government celebrates the UK’s cider making traditions and recognises the industry’s important contribution to the UK’s economy.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 15 September (HL10370), what assessment they made following engagement with logistics businesses of the current system that is used to notify drivers of physical checks of their vehicle under the Border Target Operating Model without specifying which consignment is affected.

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

Defra continues to have regular engagement with border stakeholders including the logistics sector, to discuss operational aspects of the Border Target Operating Model implementation. Defra continues to use this engagement with stakeholders for review and improvement purposes

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the press release by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 February, Record investment to protect thousands of UK homes and businesses, how the pledge that homes will be better protected from flooding is being measured.

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

This Government is investing at least £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

We are on track to protect more than 66,000 properties by March 2026 as announced on 4 February (see attached): 52,000 properties better protected through building new defences and an additional 14,500 properties better protected by reprioritising £108 million into maintenance. The metric used is properties better protected, which identifies the total number of properties with a reduced probability of flooding or coastal erosion.

We have developed new outcome and output metrics to drive the best FCERM outcomes and explain the benefits of the FCERM investment to different audiences. These metrics will be used for the new programme starting in April 2026. The outcome metrics are economic benefits and risk to properties. The output metrics are properties benefitting from different levels of risk reduction, and the condition of FCERM assets.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 4 December (HL Deb col 1907), whether they will publish the animal welfare legislation and consultation recommendations that have not yet been commenced or acted on.

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

As set out by the Prime Minister, we will publish our Animal Welfare Strategy this year which will set out our priorities for animal welfare.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of flood defences in York.

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

Since 2016, the Environment Agency has invested £125 million of government funding on a major upgrade of the engineered defences through York, including walls and flood gates and improvements to the Foss Barrier and pumping station. The defences are designed to protect properties from a flood with a 1% probability of happening in any given year, allowing for the effects of climate change until 2039. Further climate change predictions indicate upper catchment flood alleviation measures will be required to offer York the same standard of protection past 2039.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of invasive weed removal from publicly owned land in England.

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

Various public bodies and local authorities undertake removal activities for invasive non-native weed species as part of their land management responsibilities. Natural England investigates complaints about the threat of injurious weeds spreading to agricultural land.

An assessment of the effectiveness of these interventions on publicly owned land has not been made.

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 potential cost savings to the public purse of introducing a mandatory minimum requirement that 30% of tyres procured for government fleet vehicles be retreaded.

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

Defra is working on a review of the Government Buying Standards which set out how Government procurement can take account of environmental and social impacts whilst ensuring value for money. This review considers the lifecycle impacts of fleet vehicles, including measures to reduce waste and raw material consumption associated with vehicles parts such as tyres.

As part of this work, Defra has made no specific estimate of the potential cost savings arising from a mandatory minimum target on government tyres being retreaded.

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 waste and raw material consumption in government fleet maintenance including through the use of retreading.

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

Defra is working on a review of the Government Buying Standards which set out how Government procurement can take account of environmental and social impacts whilst ensuring value for money. This review considers the lifecycle impacts of fleet vehicles, including measures to reduce waste and raw material consumption associated with vehicles parts such as tyres.

As part of this work, Defra has made no specific estimate of the potential cost savings arising from a mandatory minimum target on government tyres being retreaded.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to stop the expansion of low-welfare farms.

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

All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with comprehensive animal welfare legislation.

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 section 147ZA of the Highways Act 1980 on the rights of disabled people to access the outdoors.

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

This Government is supportive of the provision within section 147ZA of the 1980 Act that enables an authority to work with landowners and relevant parties to replace or improve existing structures so that they can be used more easily by individuals that may experience mobility challenges. There is currently no national assessment available of the impacts of this provision. However, we will continue to improve access to green and blue spaces, ensuring that it is safe and appropriate for all users, through our various initiatives.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made representations to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on ensuring that the statutory duties of local highway authorities for the public rights of way network are integrated into the Local Government Outcomes Framework.

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

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on a range of issues.

The Government has no plans at this stage to integrate local highway authorities’ statutory duties for public rights of way into the Local Government Outcomes Framework. The Local Government Outcomes Framework will include key national priorities delivered at the local level, so will not have metrics measuring all local authority statutory duties. Local highway authorities have clear statutory responsibilities for managing and maintaining the public rights of way network within their individual areas, including ensuring routes are kept free from obstruction. They are also required to prepare and keep under review a Rights of Way Improvement Plan, which assesses the condition of the network and sets out planned improvements for all users. These plans are published on each authority’s website.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of funding mechanisms under the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging scheme to enable local authorities and other land managers to address single-use packaging waste on public rights of way and in rural green spaces.

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

In autumn last year, Defra published the final impact assessment for the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) regulations when they were laid in Parliament. Payments for litter cleanup are outside the scope of the regulations and therefore this assessment did not include analysis of how pEPR funding might address littered packaging on public rights of way or in rural green spaces.

More broadly this Government remains committed to tackling litter. Most importantly the deposit return scheme for drinks containers which will be rolled out in October 2027, will have a major impact on littered single use packaging waste. Plastic bottles and cans account for 55% of litter volume and DRS is expected to significantly reduce the number of items littered.

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 improve water quality monitoring in designated bathing areas.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) monitors designated bathing waters above the minimum frequency required in the Bathing Water Regulations during the bathing water season. Most sites are sampled weekly, following World Health Organisation recommendations and to reduce misclassification risk.

On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament a Statutory Instrument introducing reforms and technical amendments to the Bathing Water Regulations, which predominantly came into force 21 November 2025. The reforms include the discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site, enabling tailored seasons and monitoring periods that reflect when people use the bathing waters, strengthening public health messaging. The technical amendments align legislation with modern sampling practices, allowing the EA to improve efficiency and delivery for the public.

The EA also has an active Research and Development programme exploring innovative contamination detection at bathing waters and participate with other UK and international agencies on the development of analytical techniques.

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 implementing regulations and updated statutory guidance for water-company regulation, governance changes and environmental monitoring under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025.

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

Guidance is being developed by Defra and the regulators and will be published in due course, as will any enacting implementing regulations, as needed.

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 ending the routine culling of day-old male chicks in the UK egg industry; and whether she plans to encourage the use of in-ovo sexing technology through the development of an animal welfare strategy.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.

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 ban the live sale of decapod crustaceans to the public to be consumed as food to ensure compliance with the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.

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

There are no plans to ban the live sale of decapod crustaceans to the public to be consumed as food.

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 commission a National Audit Office evaluation of the implementation, effectiveness and value-for-money of (a) statutory Biodiversity Net Gain and (b) the re-designed Sustainable Farming Incentive.

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

The National Audit Office (NAO) undertook a review of statutory biodiversity net gain (BNG) in May 2024 and the Government is implementing many of the recommendations. The Government also recently consulted on options for improving BNG for small, medium and brownfield sites and will publish a response in due course.

The NAO also undertook a review of the Farming and Countryside Programme in June 2024, which considered a previous version of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). Ministers are considering how to change the SFI scheme so that it better supports sustainable farming and drives growth. We will introduce improved budgetary controls to help money reach more farmers and focus on the most impactful actions to benefit the environment and which work alongside farm business. Full scheme details including the budget, timing and eligibility will be published well ahead of launch in the first half of 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 the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of consulting on reforms to Smoke Control Areas.

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

We continuously review the evidence around emissions and the most effective way to tackle smoke controlled areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environmental Improvement Plan, when her Department plans to publish the consultation on measures that cut emissions from domestic wood combustion.

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

The Government is currently developing proposals for measures to tackle emissions from Domestic Combustion.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government how many owners have been prosecuted in the past year for (1) the illegal ownership of banned breeds of dog, or (2) failure to muzzle those dogs in public areas.

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

The Government does not hold information on the number of owners prosecuted for illegal ownership of banned breeds or failure to muzzle their dogs in public areas.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what date she expects the repair work on (a) St Ives and (b) Brownshill staunches to be completed.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) remains committed to maintaining and repairing these assets and has secured funding for repairs to St Ives Sluice and Brownshill Staunch Sluice through to 31 March 2027.

Subject to successful procurement and weather conditions, the EA expects major on-site works to commence during the summer and autumn of 2026, when river conditions are most suitable for construction. These on-site works are expected to be completed by March 2027.

The EA has set up a website to keep the local community up to date on both projects. I encourage you to share this website with your constituents.

St Ives Sluice and Brownshill Sluice | Engage Environment Agency

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Found: DSIT, MoD, DESNZ, Defra and the Department for Transport (DfT) are working closely together to ensure

Found: ARISE is a UKRI and Defra funded research and community-engagement project that seeks to develop resilience

Found: MARY CREAGH CBE MP DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS 2 MARSHAM STREET, LONDON

Found: of Mercury (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (SI 2025/1255) and Response from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has conducted an impact assessment on UK musicians regarding the additional CITES permit requirements that an Appendix I listing would require, including travel, touring logistics, and compliance impacts.

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

DCMS has not conducted a formal impact assessment on UK musicians regarding the additional CITES permit requirements that an Appendix I listing would require.

Consultation on CITES proposals are led by DEFRA, who engaged extensively with the music sector and DCMS Officials ahead of the recent COP20 to understand potential implications of uplisting Brazilwood (Pernambuco) to Appendix I. This evidence informed the UK’s position to oppose an uplisting as it would have imposed significant negative impacts through increased administrative burdens and restrictions on the movement of finished bows, without delivering a clear conservation benefit.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what affordability criteria were used by the Treasury when assessing the ability of farm businesses to pay the new inheritance tax charges within 10 years of death of the owner of a family farm of sufficient value to incur those charges.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government encourages anyone who is concerned about their own mental health, or the mental health of those around them, to seek support. The Government takes mental health support for farmers very seriously. For example, Defra supports farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. The fund supports projects in England designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families, including preventing cases of poor mental health within farming communities, and to deliver a range of essential services, including one-to-one support.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 375 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This is a reduction from up to 520 estates forecast to pay more at Autumn Budget 2024. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

A report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published in August 2025, prior to the announcement at Budget 2025, concluded that half of the estates paying more would see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and 86 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs made of the impact of reducing inheritance tax relief on agricultural and business property on farmer suicide rates before taking the decision to do so.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government encourages anyone who is concerned about their own mental health, or the mental health of those around them, to seek support. The Government takes mental health support for farmers very seriously. For example, Defra supports farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. The fund supports projects in England designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families, including preventing cases of poor mental health within farming communities, and to deliver a range of essential services, including one-to-one support.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 375 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This is a reduction from up to 520 estates forecast to pay more at Autumn Budget 2024. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

A report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published in August 2025, prior to the announcement at Budget 2025, concluded that half of the estates paying more would see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and 86 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs made of the impact of reducing inheritance tax relief on agricultural and business property on farmers' mental health before taking the decision to do so.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government encourages anyone who is concerned about their own mental health, or the mental health of those around them, to seek support. The Government takes mental health support for farmers very seriously. For example, Defra supports farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. The fund supports projects in England designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families, including preventing cases of poor mental health within farming communities, and to deliver a range of essential services, including one-to-one support.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 375 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This is a reduction from up to 520 estates forecast to pay more at Autumn Budget 2024. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

A report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published in August 2025, prior to the announcement at Budget 2025, concluded that half of the estates paying more would see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and 86 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment His Majesty's Treasury made of the impact of reducing inheritance tax relief on agricultural and business property on farmer suicide rates before taking the decision to do so.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government encourages anyone who is concerned about their own mental health, or the mental health of those around them, to seek support. The Government takes mental health support for farmers very seriously. For example, Defra supports farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. The fund supports projects in England designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families, including preventing cases of poor mental health within farming communities, and to deliver a range of essential services, including one-to-one support.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 375 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This is a reduction from up to 520 estates forecast to pay more at Autumn Budget 2024. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

A report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published in August 2025, prior to the announcement at Budget 2025, concluded that half of the estates paying more would see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and 86 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment His Majesty's Treasury made of the impact of reducing inheritance tax relief on agricultural and business property on farmers' mental health before taking the decision to do so.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government encourages anyone who is concerned about their own mental health, or the mental health of those around them, to seek support. The Government takes mental health support for farmers very seriously. For example, Defra supports farming welfare organisations through funding the Farmer Welfare Grant. The fund supports projects in England designed to offer tailored support to farmers and their families, including preventing cases of poor mental health within farming communities, and to deliver a range of essential services, including one-to-one support.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses, fixing the public finances, and funding public services. The reforms reduce the inheritance tax advantages available to owners of agricultural and business assets, but still mean those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992. Where inheritance tax is due, those liable for a charge can pay any liability on the relevant assets over 10 annual instalments, interest-free.

As announced at Budget 2025, any unused £1 million allowance for the 100% rate of agricultural property relief and business property relief will be transferable between spouses and civil partners, including if the first death was before 6 April 2026.

The Government has set out that the reforms are expected to result in up to 375 estates across the UK claiming agricultural property relief, including those also claiming business property relief, paying more inheritance tax in 2026-27. This is a reduction from up to 520 estates forecast to pay more at Autumn Budget 2024. Almost three-quarters of estates claiming agricultural property relief, including those that also claim for business property relief, will not pay any more tax as a result of the changes in 2026-27, based on the latest available data.

A report by the independent Centre for the Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) published in August 2025, prior to the announcement at Budget 2025, concluded that half of the estates paying more would see an increase in their effective inheritance tax rate of less than 5 percentage points, and 86 per cent of these estates could pay their entire inheritance tax bill out of non-farm assets.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of reintroducing a milk strategy for schools.

Answered by Olivia Bailey - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)

Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only

Milk is an excellent food for children’s growth and development. As part of the School Food Standards, lower fat milk or lactose reduced milk must be available to children who want it for drinking at least once a day during school hours. It is a legislative requirement that milk is provided free of charge to pupils who meet the free school milk criteria, and schools may charge all other pupils.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs leads the School Milk Scheme Strategy, which supports the provision of milk in schools. The strategy aims to support the consumption of dairy products by children from an early age to promote healthy eating habits and good nutritional health, and support efforts to tackle child obesity by part subsidising, or reimburse in full where relevant, the cost of a daily portion of dairy in line with national guidance. The Strategy also sets out who the support is targeted at and the eligible products that can be supported.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the National Fire Chiefs Council on the potential risk of wildfires crossing into urban areas.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) works closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) on the full range of wildfire risks to strengthen preparedness and improve response, including potential impacts on urban areas. We also continue to work closely with partners across government, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and wider stakeholders, to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk at the national level.

Since 2024, the Government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help stop wildfires setting homes on fire.

Answered by Samantha Dixon - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) works closely with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), fire and rescue services and local resilience partners to strengthen preparedness and improve response to wildfires. Since 2024, the Government has funded a National Resilience Wildfire Advisor to assess what additional wildfire national capabilities might be needed to increase resilience to wildfire risk and to ensure coordination of approaches across the sector.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that the planning system should take full account of the full range of potential climate change impacts, and that it should shape places in ways that improve resilience and minimise vulnerability. Such impacts can include wildfires. It requires local plan policies to support appropriate measures to ensure the resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change impacts, such as providing space for physical protection measures.

The National Design Guide and National Model Design Code emphasise the importance of design in response to environmental change and challenges. It provides guidance for well-designed places that address climate change mitigation and resilience. The department intends to publish updates to the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code in due course, and we are considering the inclusion of further guidance on wildfire risk.

We continue to work closely with partners across government, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the fire sector, and with wider stakeholders to identify policy options for addressing wildfire risk at the national level.

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