Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The Government is committed improving water resilience. With increasing demand and the climate changing, the need for investment in resilient water supply infrastructure is necessary to meet our future needs.

Water companies have the statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water and set out how they plan to continue to do this through statutory Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs set out how each company will maintain resilient water supplies for at least the next 25 years. Within their WRMPs, companies consider all options, including improved demand management and a mix of new water resources infrastructure, such as reservoirs, large scale water transfers, desalination and water recycling. The EA has published a summary of new water infrastructure planned by the water companies: Appendix C: Revised draft water resources management plans supply options - GOV.UK (see attached).

This Government has no plans at this time to reintroduce a dog licensing scheme, as mandatory microchipping already provides a national registration framework for linking dogs to their keepers.

As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra has established a working group on fur, involving both industry experts and those who support restrictions on the trade in fur. The primary focus of the group will be to explore animal welfare concerns relating to the fur trade and the different ways in which they could be addressed. The department will seek appropriate input from relevant experts as needed as part of this.

Along with the previous government’s call for evidence and the Animal Welfare Committee’s opinion on fur, outputs from this working group will be used to inform future policy decisions on this issue.

This Government is investing in the power of citizen science to improve environmental understanding and generate high-quality evidence to solve complex water system problems. The Environment Agency has trained citizen scientists to carry out flow monitoring, enabled members of the public to share insights including on flow conditions using its pilot project BluePrint and encouraged use of external flow monitoring apps. This Government has also doubled support to catchment partnerships and provided funding for Water Restoration Fund and Water Environment Improvement Fund projects which support development and analysis of citizen science in local areas.

The Government is keen for public sector canteens and restaurants to offer a choice of nutritious and sustainable meal options, including plant-rich meals. However, specific menu decisions are best left to local canteen managers.

The Government is working with industry, on a Horticulture Sector Growth Plan aiming to grow the sector’s profit. This is a sector-led plan using sector expertise to set out a clear vision for growth of the sector and a practical pathway to deliver it.

Defra is also carrying out research to understand the growth potential of alternative protein technologies, including plant-based protein products.

The NAO's report shows risks to food supplies are becoming more complex, which is exactly why we are working with farmers and the food and drink industry to strengthen the UK’s food security and resilience.

The Government will carefully consider the report’s findings and recommendations as part of our ongoing work to build a more resilient, productive and sustainable food system.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Crown Prosecution Service guidance indicates that attacks on other animals, including cats, may amount to a dog being dangerously out of control, particularly where a person is injured or may be injured. Owners may face imprisonment for up to 14 years and be banned from owning a dog. Enforcement following dog attacks is a matter for the police.

This Government keeps dog control legislation under review and works with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to promote responsible ownership, support enforcement, improve public education and strengthen data on dog attacks.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Crown Prosecution Service guidance indicates that attacks on other animals, including cats, may amount to a dog being dangerously out of control, particularly where a person is injured or may be injured. Owners may face imprisonment for up to 14 years and be banned from owning a dog. Enforcement following dog attacks is a matter for the police.

This Government keeps dog control legislation under review and works with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to promote responsible ownership, support enforcement, improve public education and strengthen data on dog attacks.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Crown Prosecution Service guidance indicates that attacks on other animals, including cats, may amount to a dog being dangerously out of control, particularly where a person is injured or may be injured. Owners may face imprisonment for up to 14 years and be banned from owning a dog. Enforcement following dog attacks is a matter for the police.

This Government keeps dog control legislation under review and works with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to promote responsible ownership, support enforcement, improve public education and strengthen data on dog attacks.

Under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, it is an offence for any dog to be dangerously out of control in any place. Crown Prosecution Service guidance indicates that attacks on other animals, including cats, may amount to a dog being dangerously out of control, particularly where a person is injured or may be injured. Owners may face imprisonment for up to 14 years and be banned from owning a dog. Enforcement following dog attacks is a matter for the police.

This Government keeps dog control legislation under review and works with the police, local authorities and animal welfare organisations to promote responsible ownership, support enforcement, improve public education and strengthen data on dog attacks.

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

The UK is around 90% self-sufficient in eggs for human consumption and has been for the past ten years, demonstrating clear demand for high-quality, domestically produced eggs. In the 12 months to June 2026, UK imports of eggs and associated products decreased by 6% compared to the previous 12 months. In addition, the Poultry Sector Growth Plan is being developed by industry, supported by Government, to identify opportunities to strengthen our national food security whilst balancing broader environmental, animal welfare and trade objectives. This Government always considers the impact of overseas goods on UK producers.

No sites in Durham, including North Durham, have been identified as high-priority sites and therefore assessed against the Waste Crime Action Plan clearance criteria. Sites are selected for the Illegal Waste Site Clearance Scheme based on operational risk, environmental risk and community impact. The scheme is focused on the most serious illegal waste sites posing the greatest ongoing harm to local communities and the environment.

The Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature and a more resilient economy. We established a Circular Economy Task Force to co-design our approach and will outline our next steps shortly.

Natural England is aware there is interest from certain landowners and stakeholders to release Dalmatian pelican in the UK. Natural England attended a study tour of potential areas in autumn 2025 and has advised that more ecological and social science evidence is needed before full feasibility can be established. To support best practice, Defra has published the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations in England (see attached). The Code sets clear expectations for projects, including demonstrating a conservation need, assessing feasibility and risks, securing permissions and meeting legal requirements, and ensuring appropriate release, monitoring and advice from Natural England where needed.

This Government takes agricultural water pollution seriously. The department are bringing agricultural regulations together into a single, clear and robust set of requirements to help reduce water pollution. The detail of these reforms is still being developed.

Defra recently consulted on the best way to regulate the use of sewage sludge on farms. The consultation sought views on options to make the regulatory framework more agile as new evidence emerges about contaminant risks.

The department continue to develop the evidence base on contaminants in sludge by bringing stakeholders together to identify evidence gaps and shape future research priorities. Defra also are supporting the work of the water industry-funded Chemicals Investigation Programme to explore new treatment technologies to remove contaminants from sludge.

Users of the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme made 15,141 journeys from Great Britain to Northern Ireland using a Pet Travel Document, covering 11,690 individual pets, from 4 June 2025 (the date the Scheme launched) to 3 June 2026.

The Scheme removes the need for health treatments or animal health certificates for those travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with their pet or assistance dog.

The Flood Forecasting Centre improves preparedness by providing early warnings of conditions that could trigger flash flooding, through daily flood guidance statements and the new rapid flood guidance service. Longer-term flood outlooks are improving and support flood response planning for emergency responders and the public. The Environment Agency uses the latest weather forecasts from the Met Office, and its flood forecast models to help inform incident management decisions such as issuing Flood Alerts and Warnings. The Environment Agency’s new Forecasting and Warning Service launched in May 2026 has improved our forecasting, modelling, and warning functions. It is supported by major digital updates and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches.

Sanitary and phytosanitary trade restrictions must be evidenced-based and proportionate in line with World Trade Organization rules.

Defra is assessing Brazilian production systems in place to ensure that beef from animals treated with certain antimicrobial products is not exported to Great Britain, as a priority.

As laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, and following the Animal Welfare Committee’s report on the topic, we will consult on introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish into legislation. Further details will be set out in due course.

Through a partnership with The Tree Council, we have invested more than £3 million over the last two years to increase urban tree cover, supporting 28 local authorities and charities to plant street trees and create greener urban spaces so far, with more projects to come this winter. We are also developing future options for planting support for urban trees, to significantly boost the numbers of new trees established on streets across England.

Forestry Commission and the Trees and Design Action Group have published new guidance, which includes practical advice and technical drawings on designing and constructing effective tree pits for both new build streetscapes and urban retrofits.

Work is continuing to develop the evidence needed to inform policy on the protection of recreational water users, including working with the Public Health Water Taskforce, which is advising Government on public health risks associated with drinking and recreational water quality and opportunities for mitigation. The environmental, public health and wider implications of including a broader range of water users, including the practical implications and potential scale of any changes, and the most appropriate policy and regulatory framework, will need to be considered to ensure future decisions are informed by robust evidence.

Local councils already have powers to apply local controls to restrict or ban the use of sky lanterns (including Chinese lanterns) on council or public land or issue a fixed penalty notice for littering.

Voluntary initiatives aimed at minimising the risks associated with sky lanterns also exist, including the Code of Practice for sky lanterns developed by industry to ensure that they are manufactured to be safe and are sold responsibly.

Ofwat set specific performance commitments for water companies including on leakage. South West Water continues to underperform on leakage, and the company did not meet its 2024 target. Government expects Ofwat to enable fair prices for customers through the setting of licence conditions and guaranteed service standards. To further support this, Government is enabling the largest smart meter rollout to date over this price review to protect customer bills by, identifying and eradicating leakage.

This Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and is committed to delivering the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation, as set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

It has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. Production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.

This Government remains committed to maintaining and enhancing animal welfare standards and recognises the strength of public feeling on this issue.

The River Roding is affected by wastewater discharges, urban drainage and sewer misconnections. The Environment Agency works with partners to address these pressures through the Government’s Plan for Water. Under Thames Water’s Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) programme, investigations, enhanced monitoring and storm overflow improvements are being delivered to reduce pollution impacts.

Thames Water assets, including sewage treatment works, pumping stations, sewers and surface water outfalls, are regularly considered in pollution investigations within the River Roding catchment. Thames Water is progressing Environment Agency approved Asset Management Period 8 (AMP8) schemes, including storm overflow investigations, enhanced monitoring and infrastructure upgrades, to reduce pollution and sewage discharge impacts.

The Environment Agency monitors water company leakage through annual reporting across a 12-month period, assessing delivery against Water Resources Management Plans. Water companies have committed to reducing leakage by 50% from 2017/18 levels by 2050. Under the Environment Act 2021, the statutory Water Demand Target includes an interim target to reduce leakage by 30% by 2032, helping put companies on a pathway to meet the 2050 commitment. Government is also supporting smart meter rollout, which can help identify leakage through more timely and accurate data.

The UK’s Blue Planet Fund supports partners in South East Asia to protect their corals reefs and mangroves by providing funding for locally-led solutions, technical assistance, and to catalyse additional finance. The UK is the largest donor to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, a blended finance instrument that mobilises action to protect, restore and safeguard coral reefs and the communities that depend on them. Our bilateral programme, Climate and Ocean Adaptation and Sustainable Transitions (COAST), works closely with partners in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam. The UK has also signed the Mangrove Breakthrough and the High-Level Climate-Resilient Coral Reef Commitment.

The Government is strongly committed to improving the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS).

In 2024 and 2026 we made changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support increased delivery of SuDS. The NPPF now requires all development to utilise SuDS where they could have drainage impacts. These systems should be appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposed development and designed to national standards.

Better delivery of SuDS may be achieved by continuing to improve the current planning policy-based approach and looking at ways of improving the approach to adoption and maintenance, rather than commencing Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Water companies are responsible for deciding whether to implement a Temporary Use Ban during periods of water scarcity and must do so in accordance with their statutory drought plans and the relevant legislative framework.

The local water company can decide whether certain activities are exempt from the TUBs in their area. A common approach to applying discretionary exceptions is adopted by water companies (as outlined in Water UK code of practice).​

Customers meeting statutory or discretionary exception criteria, may continue using hosepipes, but are encouraged to use water responsibly and efficiently. Exemptions are unlikely to materially undermine the effectiveness of TUBs because they are generally targeted at activities that are either essential for health, safety or animal welfare, commercial activities where water use is relatively small and specific customer groups such as Blue Badge holders or Priority Services customers.

Research by the Environment Agency found that where TUBs had been used they can reduce the amount of water companies put in their distribution network by 3 to 5%, helping supplies last longer.

Water companies are responsible for deciding whether to implement a Temporary Use Ban during periods of water scarcity and must do so in accordance with their statutory drought plans and the relevant legislative framework.

The local water company can decide whether certain activities are exempt from the TUBs in their area. A common approach to applying discretionary exceptions is adopted by water companies (as outlined in Water UK code of practice).​

Customers meeting statutory or discretionary exception criteria, may continue using hosepipes, but are encouraged to use water responsibly and efficiently. Exemptions are unlikely to materially undermine the effectiveness of TUBs because they are generally targeted at activities that are either essential for health, safety or animal welfare, commercial activities where water use is relatively small and specific customer groups such as Blue Badge holders or Priority Services customers.

Research by the Environment Agency found that where TUBs had been used they can reduce the amount of water companies put in their distribution network by 3 to 5%, helping supplies last longer.

The UK Forestry Standard and regulatory frameworks for forestry that apply in all UK administrations ensure that sustainable forest management is practised in all woodlands, with detailed requirements for the protection of biodiversity.

Defra publishes the data from the June Survey of Agriculture annually. Constituency level data for that dataset is only published on years where a full census is run (which is once every ten years, with the most recent census being carried out in 2021). It would not be statistically robust to publish constituency level data from June 2025 or June 2026, although the data for those years is presented at other geographical breakdowns (e.g. region, county/unitary authority and local authority).

The constituency level data for 2021 can be found here.

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions, including a permanent ban, on the sale of disposable barbecues in the light of experience gained from the temporary ban introduced in August. Any such restrictions are most likely to be implemented under waste legislation, which is why Defra is taking the lead on this issue, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading the Government’s overall approach to wildfires.

In the meantime, local authorities have powers to establish Public Space Protection Orders, which can prohibit the use of disposable barbecues in designated areas where appropriate. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions, including a permanent ban, on the sale of disposable barbecues in the light of experience gained from the temporary ban introduced in August. Any such restrictions are most likely to be implemented under waste legislation, which is why Defra is taking the lead on this issue, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading the Government’s overall approach to wildfires.

In the meantime, local authorities have powers to establish Public Space Protection Orders, which can prohibit the use of disposable barbecues in designated areas where appropriate. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

The Government will consider the case for further restrictions, including a permanent ban, on the sale of disposable barbecues in the light of experience gained from the temporary ban introduced in August. Any such restrictions are most likely to be implemented under waste legislation, which is why Defra is taking the lead on this issue, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government who are leading the Government’s overall approach to wildfires.

In the meantime, local authorities have powers to establish Public Space Protection Orders, which can prohibit the use of disposable barbecues in designated areas where appropriate. It is for individual councils to decide how and to what extent to use these powers.

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise, including to farmers. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.

As announced in August 2026, the Government is supporting farmers through a range of measures. These include temporary Environmental Land Management flexibilities and up to £15m in funding million for on-farm reservoirs.

Defra has announced an extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 Window 2, which opens later this month. This takes SFI26’s total budget to £290 million and helps more farmers access support.

The Environment Agency is prioritising short-term abstraction licence variations, and the Government is committed to continue working with the farming sector to improve resilience of on-farm water supply to ensure farmers can invest with confidence.

The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the farming and water sectors, taking further action if needed.

The department monitors food waste from offices it manages on a monthly basis.

The Government understands the importance of transparency in relation to the welfare of farmed animals. Multi Annual National Control Plan (MANCP) reports include national data on the number of farm inspections completed by APHA, the welfare scores from those inspections and any subsequent enforcement action are reported at a national level. From 2026 Local Authority inspections will also be included in this report. The government considers that this provides sufficient overview of animal welfare enforcement data.

Responsibility for assessing local risks, including wildfire risk, sits with local responders under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004. Local Resilience Forums bring together emergency services, local authorities, health bodies and other partners to assess local risks and develop, maintain and exercise multi-agency emergency plans.

Local Resilience Forums are expected to consider risks relevant to their local area, including where environmental and land-use factors may increase the potential impact of incidents on nearby communities. Risk assessments and preparedness arrangements are therefore tailored to local circumstances and informed by local evidence.

Environmental Land Management schemes already support a range of actions that can help reduce wildfire risk and improve resilience, for example Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier includes options for wildfire planning, fire and fuel breaks, and fire belts. Defra has also introduced temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management revenue agreements in response to the exceptionally hot and dry conditions experienced this year, including measures to support the creation of fire breaks.

The UK is home to cold-water corals domestically and significant tropical reefs in its Overseas Territories.

In England, our deep-water coral habitats, situated within The Canyons Marine Conservation Zone, are protected by the Marine Management Organisation’s byelaw restricting bottom-trawling.

We also work closely with our Overseas Territories through the Coral Conservation in the Overseas Territories Working Group to support resilience-based reef management, collaboration and implementation of national reef action plans.

The nature security assessment on biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security identified coral reefs in SE Asia as one of 6 ecosystems of strategic importance for the UK. The UK is the largest donor to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, a blended finance instrument that mobilises action to protect, restore and safeguard coral reef ecosystems and the communities that depend on them including in SE Asia.

Restrictions on burning through The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 aim to reduce the impacts of unnecessary repeated burning on peatlands. Repeated burning can alter species composition and hydrology, resulting in peatlands that are often dominated by heather or Molinia.

As part of its delivery of the Third National Adaptation Programme, Defra has commissioned a wildfire and peatland study, which includes looking at the effectiveness of a range of peatland land management systems and practices in creating wildfire resilience including practices such as grazing, mowing and controlled burning. Defra will continue to monitor these results and engage with key stakeholders.

The Government does not collect data on graffiti incidents, Fixed Penalty Notices issued for graffiti offences in lieu of prosecution and graffiti prosecutions in court.