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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of registration anomalies relating to common land; and what steps they are taking to rectify them.

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

The Government recognises that there are registration anomalies relating to common land arising from the former Commons Registration Act 1965. These include issues such as incorrectly drawn boundaries, buildings mistakenly included within registered commons, and land recorded that did not meet the legal definition of common land. Schedule 2 of the Commons Act 2006 provides mechanisms to correct such historic registration errors.

To support this process, and as part of the partial implementation of Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006, the Government has provided grant funding to a limited number of local authorities to undertake this work. Funding was initially made available to seven “pioneer” authorities from October 2008 and later extended to two additional authorities in 2014. These authorities—Cumberland Council and North Yorkshire Council—continue to receive funding to carry out their statutory duties under the Act. To date, they have been allocated £494,858 and £326,339 respectively, with funding scheduled to run until March 2027.

There are currently no plans to roll out Part 1 of the Commons Act 2006 more widely across England, but we will keep this under consideration.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government when the communiqué for the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs meeting held on 5 February will be published on gov.uk.

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

The communiqué was published on 5 March 2026 at Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs communiqués - GOV.UK.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many companies based in the United Kingdom are licensed to sell trophy hunting packages targeting species listed under CITES Appendices I and II.

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

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

There is no specific regulation or licensing regime for UK companies selling trophy hunting packages, and Defra does not maintain records of the number of companies offering such services. Where the import of any Appendix I or II species is involved, such activities are governed by existing rules under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers exist to regulate the promotion and sale of trophy hunting packages at commercial exhibitions in the United Kingdom.

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

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

There is no specific regulation or licensing regime for UK companies selling trophy hunting packages, and Defra does not maintain records of the number of companies offering such services. Where the import of any Appendix I or II species is involved, such activities are governed by existing rules under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review guidance and regulations on the promotion of hunting trips involving species listed as (a) endangered and (b) critically endangered at exhibitions in the UK.

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

The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.

There are no plans to review guidance or regulations relating to the promotion of hunting trips at exhibitions in the UK. Where the import of any Appendix I or II species is involved, such activities are governed by existing rules under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many sewage works suffered a structural malfunction resulting in sewage discharge in each of the last five years.

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

The Environment Agency has published data on the number of water company wastewater pollution incidents by source, including from sewage treatment works, over the last five years. Water and Sewerage Pollution Incident Report for 2016-2024.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an estimate of the potential impact to GDP in the UK from nature and biodiversity loss due to climate change.

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

Defra co-funded a 2024 report on Assessing the Materiality of Nature-Related Financial Risks for the UK, led by the Green Finance Institute working with academic partners. The report found that environmental degradation could lead to a potential reduction in GDP of around 3% and, in certain scenarios, nature-related risks including water shortages and soil reduction could lead to up to a 6% reduction in GDP in the years ahead. In addition, this Government’s recent National security assessment on global ecosystems highlights how global ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security and prosperity. Nature’s recovery is fundamental to the Government’s approach to economic growth, as set out in our Environmental Improvement Plan.

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 has taken in response to spills into the Kennet, Pang, and Lambourn chalk streams from Thames Water sewage treatment works between 2021 and 2025.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) has led the Water Industry National Environment Programme, which sets out a wide range of improvement schemes that Thames Water must deliver, including investigations and actions to reduce discharges from storm overflows, with priority given to sensitive sites such as chalk streams.

Groundwater infiltration into the Thames Water sewer system is a leading cause for storm overflow spills in the Kennet, Lambourn and Pang catchments. The EA has required Thames Water to produce Groundwater Impacted System Management Plans to set out how the company plans to reduce groundwater infiltration.

Since April 2025, the EA has completed inspections of sewage treatment works on the Rivers Kennet, Pang and Lambourn as part of its increased programme of inspecting over 800 Thames Water wastewater assets. Any permit breaches identified are assessed on a case-by-case basis for their environmental impact. Confirmed serious permit breaches are investigated and enforced against in line with the EA’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.

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 adequacy of the penalties under the Hunting Act 2004; and whether the planned consultation on trail hunting will include consideration of Part 2 of that Act.

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

The Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the consultation on hunting with dogs will accept submissions on potential amendments to Schedule 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.

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

The Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully.

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 adequacy of the definition of hunting under the Hunting Act 2004.

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

The Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban. All responses to the consultation will be considered carefully.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information their Department holds on (a) the proportion of tyres procured that were re-tread tyres for (i) Department-operated and (ii) commercially contracted heavy vehicle fleets, including lorries, buses and refuse vehicles and (b) the volume of tyres procured for those fleets that were single-use imported tyres in the last 12 months; and whether such information is held centrally or by individual contractors.

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

There are no re-tread tyres procured for Defra Group-operated heavy goods fleets.

Defra Group operates 33 heavy goods vehicles. Three of these vehicles are fitted with re-tread tyres; however, there are only eight re-tread tyres on these vehicles. These tyres are being phased out upon need of replacement.

The Defra Group has not procured any single-use imported tyres in the last 12 months.

The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994, set out requirements for re-treaded tyres, as well as brand new tyres. Consumers can be confident in the safety of any tyre that complies with these requirements.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2026 to Question 108923, whether she plans to provide transitional arrangements to councils going through Local Government Reorganisation.

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

Local authorities with a transitional arrangement are listed in the commencement regulations with the date by which they must introduce food waste collections from households. These were applied where long-term waste disposal (mechanical biological treatment and energy from waste) contracts present a barrier to introducing separate food waste collections. All local authorities without a transitional arrangement should provide a food waste service for every household by 31 March 2026.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect waxcap grasslands; and what steps they have taken toward creating a waxcap grassland habitat of principal importance.

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

Natural England is undertaking work to map waxcap grasslands and to understand their conservation status. In addition, Natural England is currently reviewing priority habitats, and the potential inclusion of waxcap grasslands within these habitats is being considered as part of the review. Under the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme, waxcap grasslands can be identified as a target feature for funding to prevent agricultural improvement or conversion that may threaten these grasslands.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in light of the Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Cyprus, what additional biosecurity measures are in place for people travelling to the UK from Cyprus.

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

Defra banned personal imports of pig and ruminant meat and dairy products from the EU into England in April 2025. The ban remains in place. Equivalent measures are in place in Wales and Scotland.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether hospitality sector venues must state when non-stunned meat is being served.

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

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. All animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.

The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, but 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.

Major retailers have sourcing policies requiring that fresh meat comes from animals that have been stunned before slaughter. They may operate limited concessions for halal or kosher food that will be clearly labelled. Stunning before slaughter is also required by some farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured. Restaurants and other food businesses may, on request, advise whether the foods they sell are certified as halal and whether the animals were stunned before slaughter. Under existing rules, all food information provided by out‑of‑home businesses must be accurate and must not mislead consumers.

There are no regulations that prevent meat from animals slaughtered without stunning from being exported. The 2024 Food Standards Agency Slaughter Sector Survey sets out reported destinations for meat, including whether it was exported.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether non-stunned meat is exported from the UK.

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

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. All animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.

The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, but 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.

Major retailers have sourcing policies requiring that fresh meat comes from animals that have been stunned before slaughter. They may operate limited concessions for halal or kosher food that will be clearly labelled. Stunning before slaughter is also required by some farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured. Restaurants and other food businesses may, on request, advise whether the foods they sell are certified as halal and whether the animals were stunned before slaughter. Under existing rules, all food information provided by out‑of‑home businesses must be accurate and must not mislead consumers.

There are no regulations that prevent meat from animals slaughtered without stunning from being exported. The 2024 Food Standards Agency Slaughter Sector Survey sets out reported destinations for meat, including whether it was exported.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 26 November 2025 (HL11789), what steps they have taken to communicate the ambition of the International Fungal Conservation Pledge and ensure national alignment with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs' national team, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and devolved government agencies.

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

Further to those actions set out in our response to PQ UIN HL11789, in September 2025 Defra participated in the launch of the UK Network for Fungal Conservation. The network, which currently includes Defra, NE, JNCC, NIEA and DAERA membership, brings together representatives from statutory bodies, research institutes, conservation NGOs and other fungal conservation professionals to work on fungal conservation across the UK. During the first quarter of 2026, the network will work on a collaborative new strategy and delivery plan for fungal conservation in the UK, enabling its integration with the new global strategy for fungal conservation.

Additionally, and in line with the UK’s commitment to the International Fungal Conservation Pledge, the UK led a proposal at CoP20 (December 2025) to develop a programme of work on how CITES should be applied to fungi in practice. This proposal was adopted by the Parties.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in light of the Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Cyprus, what restrictions are now in place for the movement of animals, food and agricultural products from Cyprus to the UK.

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

Following the Government’s announcement on 20 February 2026, commercial import restrictions were applied to high-risk FMD-susceptible commodities, including live animals, germplasm, fresh meat, untreated meat products, untreated milk and dairy, hay and straw, and relevant animal by-products.

Personal imports of cattle, sheep, goat and pig meat, and dairy products from EU countries into Great Britain have been banned since April 2025 to protect livestock health, farmers and UK food security.

These safeguard measures will continue to apply until they are revoked or amended. Further detail is set out on GOV.UK: Official veterinary surgeon (OVS) notes - GOV.UK.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government whether non-stunned meat is sold to the general market; and if so, whether that meat is identified as having been produced by non-stun slaughter.

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

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. All animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.

The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, but 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.

Major retailers have sourcing policies requiring that fresh meat comes from animals that have been stunned before slaughter. They may operate limited concessions for halal or kosher food that will be clearly labelled. Stunning before slaughter is also required by some farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured. Restaurants and other food businesses may, on request, advise whether the foods they sell are certified as halal and whether the animals were stunned before slaughter. Under existing rules, all food information provided by out‑of‑home businesses must be accurate and must not mislead consumers.

There are no regulations that prevent meat from animals slaughtered without stunning from being exported. The 2024 Food Standards Agency Slaughter Sector Survey sets out reported destinations for meat, including whether it was exported.

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

To ask His Majesty's Government what controls are in place, if any, to ensure that non-stunned meat is only sold to the relevant religious communities.

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

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. All animals must be stunned before slaughter to make them unconscious and insensible to pain. The only exception to this is when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.

The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.

There are no regulations that require the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, but 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.

Major retailers have sourcing policies requiring that fresh meat comes from animals that have been stunned before slaughter. They may operate limited concessions for halal or kosher food that will be clearly labelled. Stunning before slaughter is also required by some farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured. Restaurants and other food businesses may, on request, advise whether the foods they sell are certified as halal and whether the animals were stunned before slaughter. Under existing rules, all food information provided by out‑of‑home businesses must be accurate and must not mislead consumers.

There are no regulations that prevent meat from animals slaughtered without stunning from being exported. The 2024 Food Standards Agency Slaughter Sector Survey sets out reported destinations for meat, including whether it was exported.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what animals, food and agricultural products were moving from Cyprus to the UK a) prior to the UK Government announcement on 20/2/26 of the Foot and Mouth Outbreak and b) after the announcement on 20/2/26.

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

There have been no imports of live ruminant or porcine animals from Cyprus to Great Britain in the past five years. Recorded trade in this time frame consisted of certain products of animal origin derived from FMD-susceptible species, such as pasteurised cheese and other heat-treated dairy products, which meet the relevant sanitary import requirements.

After the announcement there have continued to be no imports of live ruminant or porcine animals. Imports of products that meet the required heat-treatment standards and are considered safe for trade, such as pasteurised dairy products, remain permitted in line with the applicable import conditions.

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 Foot and Mouth in Cyprus on the UK.

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

Defra’s preliminary outbreak assessment for foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Cyprus concludes that the risk of introduction of the disease into Great Britain remains low.

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 merits of the development of an environmental quality standard for water for either Fipronil or Imidacloprid.

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

Environmental quality standards (EQS) are fundamental to the effective assessment and regulation of chemical impacts. This commitment has already been made in the roadmap produced by the Cross Governmental Pharmaceuticals in the Environment group.

The Government has set out its new vision for water through a White Paper published on 20 January 2026. The White Paper sets out once in a generation reforms that will transform the water system for good. It sets out how we will deliver on our promise to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas – not just for today, but for generations to come. We have committed to explore setting new ambitious overarching targets for the water environment. In the meantime, we continue to work towards our obligation to secure continuous improvement for the water environment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) the arms length bodies sponsored by her Department are compliant with the Supreme Court ruling in the case of For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025].

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

We have set out our expectation that all duty bearers, including Departments and arm’s-length bodies, follow the law as clarified by the Supreme Court ruling and seek specialist legal advice where necessary. The Prime Minister has underlined this recently.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has submitted a draft Code of Practice on services, public functions and associations to Ministers, and we are reviewing it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers.

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 food imports from countries with lower hygiene, production, animal welfare and environmental standards on the sale of UK farmers' produce.

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

As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that UK producers are not disadvantaged by lower-standard imports.

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

As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure imported food complies with UK production, hygiene and welfare standards.

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

As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to confirm the date from which farmers currently in legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements will be able to exit those agreements and enter Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier without repayment.

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

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) customers can submit a request to end their existing agreement at any time during the calendar year, but they may need to repay any money received.

Defra will work with customers whose HLS agreements will expire over the next 2-3 years to support them to continue management of key habitats and to look at how delivery of these sites can be further enhanced.

More details about the further roll out of Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) will be confirmed in due course, including which cohorts will be invited into CSHT next.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether underspend in the current financial year’s Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier budget will be (a) protected, and (b) carried forward into next year’s allocation.

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

Defra expects to increase both the numbers of farmers and land managers coming into the scheme and related spend on the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme over the course of the coming year. The scale of ambition for the number of agreements in this first phase remains unchanged.

To support this, Defra has been carefully rolling out Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier over the course of 2025 and into 2026. Since January 2025, Natural England and the Forestry Commission have offered pre-application advice to over 2,400 farmers and land managers. The application service opened on 18 September 2025, and so far over 650 sites have been invited to apply.

Defra is continuing to work with farmers and land managers to support completion of their pre-application advice and, where agreed, invite them into the service to apply over the coming months.

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 farming representatives on protecting UK producers from lower-standard imports.

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

Ministers and officials meet regularly with representatives of the farming sector. As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. The Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what safeguards are currently in place to prevent agri-food imports produced to lower environmental and animal welfare standards from undercutting UK farmers; and what plans does she have to strengthen such safeguards.

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

As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to prevent agri-food imports produced to lower animal welfare standards than those required in the UK from entering the domestic market.

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

As the Secretary of State set out at the NFU Conference, the first meeting of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board will take place in March. This represents a reset of the relationship between government and the farming and food sectors, and will develop sector plans, which target growth.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, this Government will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. The Government recognises concerns about methods of production which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, this Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the Government’s disposal to protect the UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK beef hits US shelves tariff-free for the first time – cutting costs for UK businesses, published on 2 March 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the hygiene standards applied to the beef imports from the United States included in the 13,000 tonne quota referenced in the press release.

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

Through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes an exclusive reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef. The quota is now open and worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised. Hormone treated beef remains banned and is not permitted to enter the UK.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s high sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK beef hits US shelves tariff-free for the first time – cutting costs for UK businesses, published on 2 March 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental standards applied to the beef imports from the United States included in the 13,000 tonne quota referenced in the press release.

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

Through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes an exclusive reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef. The quota is now open and worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised. Hormone treated beef remains banned and is not permitted to enter the UK.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s high sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department’s press release entitled UK beef hits US shelves tariff-free for the first time – cutting costs for UK businesses, published on 2 March 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the animal welfare standards applied to the beef imports from the United States included in the 13,000 tonne quota referenced in the press release.

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

Through the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) negotiations, the UK has agreed preferential trading terms with the US in a range of sectors. This includes an exclusive reciprocal 13,000 tonne quota for beef. The quota is now open and worth up to £70 million a year if fully utilised. Hormone treated beef remains banned and is not permitted to enter the UK.

All agri-food products must comply with the UK’s high sanitary and phytosanitary standards and wider import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. Products produced to different environmental and animal welfare standards can be placed on the UK market if they comply with these requirements. This has always been the case and includes products from the EU and other longstanding trading partners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to help encourage the egg industry to end the culling of male chicks.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

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 potential impact of imports of (a) maize, (b) oilseed rape, (c) ethanol and (d) wheat on UK farmers and domestic markets.

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

Imports supplement domestic production and ensure any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease do not affect the UK's overall security of food supply. The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open market where the value of commodities is established by those in the supply chain.

For cereals crops produced domestically, including wheat, barley, oats, and oil seed, the UK has continuously been over 80% self-sufficient in domestic production for the past 20 years. In 2023, estimates indicate 76% of the crop-derived bioethanol for road transport originated from crops grown outside the UK. An estimated 24% originated from crops grown in the UK, which was mainly made up of bioethanol derived from UK-grown wheat.

From recent UK supply and demand estimates produced by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, data suggests a competitive demand for domestic feed grains has been offsetting maize imports.

Defra does not maintain any estimates of expected levels of imports over the coming years. The level of imports will vary from year to year depending on market needs and disruption to domestic production.

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 level of import of (a) maize, (b) oilseed rape, (c) ethanol and (d) wheat in each of the next five years.

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

Imports supplement domestic production and ensure any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease do not affect the UK's overall security of food supply. The UK agricultural sector is highly resilient and adaptable and operates in an open market where the value of commodities is established by those in the supply chain.

For cereals crops produced domestically, including wheat, barley, oats, and oil seed, the UK has continuously been over 80% self-sufficient in domestic production for the past 20 years. In 2023, estimates indicate 76% of the crop-derived bioethanol for road transport originated from crops grown outside the UK. An estimated 24% originated from crops grown in the UK, which was mainly made up of bioethanol derived from UK-grown wheat.

From recent UK supply and demand estimates produced by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, data suggests a competitive demand for domestic feed grains has been offsetting maize imports.

Defra does not maintain any estimates of expected levels of imports over the coming years. The level of imports will vary from year to year depending on market needs and disruption to domestic production.

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 review existing animal welfare legislation following the withdrawal by companies from voluntary commitments to improve chicken farming conditions.

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

As set out in the animal welfare strategy, the Government remains committed to supporting a move away from the use of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens. The Government welcome the fact that those supermarkets who made Better Chicken Commitment pledges have fulfilled them, but it is disappointing to hear of the decision of various restaurant groups to withdraw their commitments to improve animal welfare in this way.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of fast growing broiler breeds on welfare conditions.

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

The welfare implications of fast-growing breeds of meat chickens was considered as part of the Defra funded Systematic Review of Evidence on Livestock Breeding conducted by Queen’s University Belfast. The Government also commissioned the Animal Welfare Committee to conduct a review of livestock breeding and we expect their report to be published this summer.

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 adequacy of the sustainable Chicken Forum.

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

The Department remains firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to continue working closely with all stakeholders to deliver high standards.

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 paragraph 88 of the UK Government Resilience Action Plan, how many meetings Ministers in their Department have attended related to the Home Defence Programme.

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

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with officials, external experts and ministerial colleagues on a range of issues, including national security, defence and resilience.

The Home Defence Programme was established in August 2024 to build the UK’s resilience to any potential escalation to conflict. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK, informed by and reflecting the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is actively supporting this work.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to ensure coordination between her Department and the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Education on policies affecting household access to food; and whether responsibility for oversight of such coordination rests with a named Minister.

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

The Good Food Cycle, published in July 2025, identifies 10 priority outcomes across themes of healthier food, sustainability, food security, affordability and inequality, and good growth. Defra leads on coordination across government on the Good Food Cycle outcomes. Defra officials and Ministers have regular interactions with other Government departments to ensure coordination on policies required to deliver them. This includes regular engagement with the Department for Work and Pensions on ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels, with the Department for Health and Social Care on food related elements of the 10 Year Health Plan, and with the Department for Education on School Food Standards.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is supporting farmers who cannot afford the costs of feasibility studies (e.g. PA2 for a feasibility study) which prevents them from accessing the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier offer.

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

Payment for completion of feasibility studies can be claimed as soon as the work has been completed. The PA2 grant funds 100% of the costs of completing the study and so farmers and land managers will receive payments back for all costs incurred.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the (a) maximum fines and (b) custodial penalties for fly-tipping offences.

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

The Government is taking action to clamp down on rogue waste operators by moving the regulation of waste management and transport from a light-touch registration system into environmental permitting. This will introduce tougher background checks for operators and tougher penalties for those who break the law.

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 Thames Water on preventing early and dry discharges at Newbury, Hungerford, East Shefford, Compton, and Hamstead Marshall sewage treatment works.

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

The Secretary of State meets with water companies to discuss a range of issues, including the need to reduce sewage discharges into our rivers, lakes and seas.

The Environment Agency (EA) has had regular engagement with Thames Water on the issue of early and dry discharges. In the Rivers Kennet, Lambourn and Pang catchments, a leading cause is groundwater infiltrating the Thames Water sewer network. The EA requires Thames Water to produce Groundwater Impacted System Management Plans to set out how the company plans to reduce groundwater infiltration.

Across all water companies, the EA continues to progress its largest ever national criminal investigation into potential breaches of environmental permit conditions at wastewater treatment works. When its investigation is complete, the EA will consider all available options under its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.

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 compliance risks caused by erroneous monitoring data at Thames Water sewage treatment works, including East Shefford, Winterbourne, Hamstead Marshall, and Hungerford.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) has undertaken inspections of Thames Water sewage treatment works at East Shefford, Winterbourne, Hamstead Marshall and Hungerford. It has also assessed Event Duration Monitoring data from these sites and completed Event Duration Monitoring flow data assessments.

Winterbourne, Hamstead Marshall and Hungerford sewage treatment works had no permit breaches caused by erroneous flow monitoring data. East Shefford sewage treatment works had a breach relating to flow monitoring systems and missing flow data which will be enforced against in line with the EA’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.

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 plans to mandate real time, publicly available MCERTS certified data for all storm overflow and treatment flows by Thames Water.

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

The Environment Act 2021 requires all water companies, including Thames Water, to publish near real time Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) data for all storm overflows. EDM installation follows specifications set out in the CIWEM (Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) Event Duration Monitoring Good Practice Guide to ensure robust data quality.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, State what assessment she has made of the potential environmental impact of Thames Water’s decision to defer upgrades at sewage treatment works impacting the River Kennet, Pang, and Lambourn until 2030.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) is clear that delays to any water company schemes, required under the Water Industry National Environment Programme are unacceptable as they will delay environmental improvement and risk failure of statutory requirements.

The EA is issuing new environmental permits in line with regulatory deadlines and is assessing compliance against these. The EA has completed inspections of sewage treatment works on the Rivers Kennet, Pang and Lambourn as part of its increased programme of inspecting over 800 Thames Water wastewater assets since April 2025.

Any permit breaches identified are assessed on a case-by-case basis for their environmental impact. Any confirmed serious permit breaches will be investigated and enforced against in line with the EA’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions has the Environment Agency brought on illegal sewage spills by water companies in each year from 2000.

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

The Environment Agency has brought a total of 611 prosecutions against water companies for offences since 2000.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps is he taking to help prevent household waste fly-tipping.

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

The Government is taking action to prevent household waste being fly-tipped by supporting local authorities to make good use of their enforcement powers.

Local authorities have powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught fly-tipping may be prosecuted which can lead to a significant fine, a community sentence or even imprisonment.

Instead of prosecuting, local authorities can choose to issue a fixed penalty notice (on-the-spot fine) of up to £1,000 to fly-tippers and £600 to householders who pass their waste to an unlicensed waste carrier.

Following a review of local authorities’ powers to seize and crush vehicles of suspected fly-tippers, we have recently published best practice guidance and case studies on the website of the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group. This will support councils to make better use of their power to seize vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. An action that could lead to the local authority selling or crushing the vehicle.

We are seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory fly-tipping enforcement guidance to support councils to consistently, appropriately and effectively exercise these existing powers.

Defra chairs the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), through which we work with a wide range of interested parties such as local councils, the Environment Agency, National Farmers Union and National Police Chiefs Council, to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a geographic indication scheme for beers traditionally brewed in a specific location.

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

The Government recognises the economic and cultural importance of geographical indications (GIs) and remains committed to ensuring their continued protection.

The family of UK produced GIs already includes beer - Kentish Ale, Kentish Strong Ale, and Rutland Bitter, in addition to East Kent Goldings, a variety of hops used in the production of beers and ales.

Those are proudly produced to specific recipes and processes in a defined place, and the Government welcome applications for GI protection from producers of other beers.

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 tackle dog attacks in Gloucester constituency.

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

The Government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. The taskforce is considering four themes: educating the public on how to stay safe around dogs, training for both dogs and their owners, enforcement, and improving data on dog attacks. The Government looks forward to receiving its findings and recommendations in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed closure of Sharp's brewery in Rock, North Cornwall on (a) jobs, (b) the local economy and (c) consumer choice.

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

Defra has not completed an impact assessment regarding the proposed closure of Sharp’s brewery. Molson Coors are conducting a consultation process on this proposed closure, and no further decisions will be made until this has finished. The department remains in regular contact with Molson Coors on this matter.

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 26 February 2026 to Question 114681 on Hunting: Birds of Prey, what assessment she has made of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

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

The Department has made no assessment of the likelihood of fox hunts exploiting the Falconry exemption to hunt mammals with hounds.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that imported egg products adhere to the same welfare standards as UK egg producers.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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 5 February (HL14038), why the potential risks of chronic exposure to users and children is not listed in the Veterinary Medicines Directorate product information database of authorised products.

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

When conducting a user risk assessment, before a veterinary medicine is authorised, both the hazards and the likely exposures to humans, including the children in a household, are considered. Data from both acute and chronic toxicology studies using animal models are used to identify the possible negative reactions that may be seen in humans if exposed. Several exposure scenarios are considered, including reasonable worst-case scenarios, leading to a conservative estimate of the actual risks to those that may come into contact with a veterinary medicine. A hazard may be identified, but if the exposure to the medicines is likely to be low, then this leads to minimal risk to the person. If risks are identified, they are listed on the product information database, alongside advice on how to minimise those risks. VMD collects data on adverse reactions reported to them and to pharmaceutical companies, once a product is on the market, and can update the risk profile and user warnings where these data indicate a concern.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what state of readiness is the UK for a possible incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease in terms of vaccine stocks and outbreak response.

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

The UK Government is prepared to respond to outbreaks of Foot and Mouth and has contingency arrangements in place, including for the control of infected premises and for animal movement controls in areas around confirmed cases. Vaccination is not the primary control tool. The framework to manage risk can be found on GOV.UK in the Foot and Mouth Disease Control Strategy for Great Britain supported by the Contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals in England.

The UK holds a Foot and Mouth vaccine bank, although use of a vaccine requires a match to the field strain. In the absence of a match, we work with pharmaceutical companies and international vaccine banks to seek access to alternative supplies.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to laying hen welfare policy on the level of imports and exports of egg products.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK egg producers are not undercut by egg imports of lower welfare standards.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the production costs for UK egg producers that would be associated with a ban on colony eggs.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

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 5 February (HL14039), (1) when the regulatory review of the AVM‑GSL status of products containing fipronil and imidacloprid will be completed, and (2) whether input from vets and scientists external to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will be consulted and contribute to the review.

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

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is undertaking a review of the AVM‑GSL status of veterinary medicines containing fipronil and imidacloprid, and further details on the review will be published in the coming weeks. A completion date cannot yet be provided as this is dependent on finalising the process and associated milestones.

The review will include a consultative process, drawing on evidence and input from all stakeholders. All decisions will be based on robust scientific assessment, with animal health and welfare remaining paramount throughout the review.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff in her Department have (a) office-based, (b) hybrid and (c) remote-working contracts.

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

As of 31 January 2026, a total of 825 out of 6,346 Defra payroll employees are recorded as “Home Based”, equating to 13%. Contractual homeworking is generally granted only in exceptional circumstances, such as where it is required for the role or as a reasonable adjustment, and each case is considered individually.

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 22 October 2025 to Question 82237 on Import Controls, whether the construction of the border control posts at (i) Belfast, (ii) Larne, (iii) Foyle and (iv) Warrenpoint had been completed by 2 March 2026 or whether any aspects of construction were ongoing or incomplete as of that date; how much and what proportion of the total costs of the construction of those posts had been paid by 2 March; and whether any further payments for construction have yet to be made.

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

In line with the commitments the Government has made under the Windsor Framework, construction of SPS Inspection Facilities at Belfast, Larne, Foyle, and Warrenpoint are in place and these facilities are operational. Remaining works at the 2 March were limited to minor snagging and commissioning activities in line with normal construction practice and include additional works at Larne which will enhance the live animal inspections already in place.

The Government has committed a maximum funding envelope of £192.3 million. Of this envelope, Defra has spent £144.1 million up to the 02 March 2026 in relation to the construction of the SPS facilities. Further payments for construction have yet to be made in accordance with contractual terms, however the total expenditure is forecast to be within the maximum funding envelope.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of repeat fly-tipping hotspots.

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

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action, such as prosecutions, to Defra, which the department have published annually since 2012, at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. Defra does not hold data that allows for trends in more localised fly-tipping hotspots to be monitored.

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 sustainability of mackerel stocks in UK waters.

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

The Government draws on independent scientific assessments from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) to understand the status of the North East Atlantic mackerel stock. The latest ICES assessment highlights increased uncertainty and pressure on the stock, underlining the need for sustainable management. Key to this is reaching a comprehensive sharing agreement with coastal States to the stock, and the UK is committed to reaching such an agreement. In its absence, the UK has reached an agreement with Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway that brings down pressure on the stock by around 10 percentage points compared to last year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many pet microchip databases are authorised for use in England; what regulatory oversight she exercises over (i) pricing structures, (ii) subscription models and (iii) data access arrangements operated by microchip database providers; what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of commercial microchip database operators on animal welfare and pet theft prevention; and whether she has considered establishing a statutory framework to require (a) interoperability and (b) a mandatory central lookup facility across approved databases.

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

Since the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in 2016, the number of compliant database operators has increased from four to 24. While this gives consumers more choice, it has made it harder for authorised users to access records quickly.

Defra is working with the Association of Microchip Database Operators (AMDO) to develop improvements to how the microchipping regime operates. AMDO is currently testing industry‑led solutions that will give authorised users digital access to database information through a single point of search.

Pet microchipping databases are operated by commercial providers and Defra does not regulate how much they charge for their services. However, all compliant database operators must ensure that they can redirect an online request for a microchip record to the database operator that holds the record. Defra monitors compliance with these requirements and will act where a database operator is failing to meet them.

Defra has not assessed the potential impact of the number of pet microchip databases on reunification times or enforcement under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

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 a Central Microchip Portal to enable authorised users, including (i) veterinary professionals, (ii) local authorities, (iii) animal wardens and (iv) police forces, to conduct secure cross-database microchip lookups; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the number of separate pet microchip databases on (a) reunification times for lost and stolen pets and (b) enforcement under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

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

Since the introduction of compulsory dog microchipping in 2016, the number of compliant database operators has increased from four to 24. While this gives consumers more choice, it has made it harder for authorised users to access records quickly.

Defra is working with the Association of Microchip Database Operators (AMDO) to develop improvements to how the microchipping regime operates. AMDO is currently testing industry‑led solutions that will give authorised users digital access to database information through a single point of search.

Pet microchipping databases are operated by commercial providers and Defra does not regulate how much they charge for their services. However, all compliant database operators must ensure that they can redirect an online request for a microchip record to the database operator that holds the record. Defra monitors compliance with these requirements and will act where a database operator is failing to meet them.

Defra has not assessed the potential impact of the number of pet microchip databases on reunification times or enforcement under the Pet Abduction Act 2024.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times the fisheries protection vessel has been deployed in each of the last five years.

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

Defra is unable to confirm the position at a UK level as fisheries protection is a devolved matter. The Marine Management Organisation is responsible for regulating and enforcing fisheries activity in English waters. Its two dedicated Offshore Patrol Vessels maintain a near-continuous presence at sea to monitor compliance and safeguard sustainable fishing, with each vessel averaging over 350 days at sea per year since 2022.

Information on at sea activity undertaken by the Scottish, Welsh, or Northern Irish authorities in the waters for which they are responsible can be obtained directly from the respective devolved governments.

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 make an assessment of the potential impact of Waitrose's withdrawal of mackerel from sale on the UK fishing industry.

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

Defra does not plan to make an assessment on the impact of Waitrose’s withdrawal of mackerel from sale as this is an individual business decision.

The UK mackerel supply goes to a diverse set of markets both in the UK and abroad and we do not expect this to have a significant impact on the fishing sector.

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 fly-tipping incidents in South Basildon and East Thurrock led to formal enforcement action over the past five years.

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

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement action, such as prosecutions, to Defra, which the department has published annually since 2012, at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england.

The data covers trends in the number of fly-tipping incidents, with a breakdown by land type, waste type and size as well as enforcement and prosecution actions undertaken for fly-tipping incidents. However, it does not include a breakdown of enforcement action taken by a constituency or district.

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 MOSL’s administrative overheads on levels of investment in water infrastructure; and whether she has considered changes to ensure that increased funding is directed to frontline services.

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

Market Operator Services Ltd (MOSL) is the not-for-profit operator of the non-household (business) retail water market. MOSL is funded through market operator charges levied on retailers and wholesalers, rather than through customer bills or capital investment allowances. MOSL costs have no bearing on the levels of investment that Ofwat permits water companies to make in infrastructure.

MOSL is a relatively small organisation in the context of the wider water sector. For 2025-2026, MOSL's annual budget of expenditure is £13.7m, which will be funded through Market Operator (MO) charges. These costs represent a very small proportion of overall expenditure in the water sector; by way of comparison industry total expenditure in the next regulatory period is anticipated to around £20 billion per year. Decisions on infrastructure investment are driven by Ofwat's price review process and water companies' statutory obligations.

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 increase production of domestic fruit, vegetables, pulses and legumes to strengthen the UK’s food security, in light of the findings of the National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems report.

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

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

In December 2025, the Secretary of State announced the Farming & Food Partnership Board in response to the independent Farming Profitability Review led by Baroness Minette Batters. The Board will bring together farming, food, retail, finance and Government to take a strategic farm‑to‑fork approach to improving farming profitability and strengthening UK food production. It will oversee sector plans aimed at boosting productivity, reducing costs and opening new markets in ways that support health and environmental goals, with the first plan focused on the horticulture sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in her Department are reliant on a visa for employment.

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

The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.

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 had discussions with OFWAT regarding the accessibility of its public contact channels; and what steps are being taken to ensure that members of the public receive timely responses to enquiries.

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

Customers can contact Ofwat by phone, post, email and via the website. Ofwat’s Customer Enquiries and Disputes (CED) team has worked hard over the past year to improve the timeliness of responses to customers which was impacted by increased contacts to Ofwat last year.

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 adjustments to ensure parity between (a) legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements, and (b) current Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements, for those delivering equivalent environmental outcomes above the moorland line.

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

In February last year, Defra recognised that Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates had fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT).

Defra invested £30 million to increase payment rates so farmers in HLS agreements can continue to restore habitats, support rare species, preserve historic features and maintain traditional landscape features in our iconic countryside.

Defra raised 157 options by 34.4% of the difference between the HLS rate set out in an agreement holder's document and the equivalent CSHT or Sustainable Farming Incentive action, to bring them more in line with those schemes. This includes equivalent payment rates for agreements above the moorland line.

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 payment parity between (a) legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements, and (b) current Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements.

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

In February last year, Defra recognised that Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates had fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT).

Defra invested £30 million to increase payment rates so farmers in HLS agreements can continue to restore habitats, support rare species, preserve historic features and maintain traditional landscape features in our iconic countryside.

Defra raised 157 options by 34.4% of the difference between the HLS rate set out in an agreement holder's document and the equivalent CSHT or Sustainable Farming Incentive action, to bring them more in line with those schemes. This includes equivalent payment rates for agreements above the moorland line.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) 2012 ban on conventional cages on the finances of producers with enriched colony cage systems and (b) five year transition period on competition between UK and EU producers.

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

The Government has carried out an assessment of the proposal to ban the keeping of laying hens, pullets in enriched colony cages and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the new round of Environmental Land Management (ELM) Capital Grants.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Collaboration Fund.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Innovation Programme.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

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

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

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 resilience of South West Water’s infrastructure serving the village of Ashcombe.

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

Decisions on sewer provision sit with South West Water, but if the community believes a mains connection is needed, a Section 101A application can be submitted for assessment. The EA can support residents with guidance on compliance with the General Binding Rules, their Environmental Permit and Section 101A application.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of transparency of pricing information provided by non‑household water retailer; and what steps she is taking to ensure that small businesses can access clear, complete and comparable quotations for water and wastewater services.

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

The water retail market enables businesses, charities and public sector organisations in England to choose their retailer. This market can help to deliver lower bills and lead to improved services. If customers are not satisfied with the service they receive, they are free to switch to alternative retailers.

The water retail market is closely regulated and there are measures in place to protect customers. The Customer Protection Code of Practice states that information provided to non-household customers shall be in clear and plain language, complete, accurate and not misleading. Ofwat also set limits on the price customers pay if they have not switched or renegotiated a new deal, to prevent them losing out.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, in reference to the her Department's White Paper entitled A new vision for water, whether her Department has made further consideration of an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for the water industry.

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

The Government is considering a range of reforms, to fix our broken water system. Delivering better outcomes and a more sustainable approach to drainage and wastewater management is a key consideration.

Extended Producer Responsibility can be an effective means of raising the funds to tackle pollution, and the government has undertaken initial investigation of Extended Producer Responsibility for wastewater.

Whilst Extended Producer Responsibility could be an effective means of raising revenue, we want to better address the root causes of pollution head on. Shifting the focus towards ‘pre-pipe’ solutions, such as rainwater management and tackling sewer misuse. For example, in November 2025, the government legislated to ban the supply and sale of wet wipes containing plastic in England.

Additionally, over the next five years, over £10bn is being spent on storm overflows investment in England, improving over 2,500 storm overflows to reduce spills. In addition, nearly £5bn is being invested in upgrades at wastewater treatment works to remove phosphorus.

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 was invited by the Office for National Statistics to provide evidence or input into its review of the ethnicity harmonised standard.

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

A review of the harmonised standard for ethnicity data collection is underway by the Government Statistical Service Harmonisation team.

A public consultation between October 2025 and February 2026 sought views from a wide range of users, including Government Departments and public bodies, to understand user needs for ethnic group data. This was supplemented by a programme of engagement activity, including with representatives of all government departments.

ONS have committed to providing an initial response to the public consultation in April, and a full report on the consultation in late summer 2026 will include more detailed information on the departments that responded to the consultation.

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 timeline for the UK and Welsh Governments to jointly publish the 2026 Transition Plan, accompanied by interim strategic guidance for the current regulators, and to introduce the Water Reform Bill to Parliament.

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

The Transition Plan is part of our plan to reform the sector and will be published in due course. It will describe the transitional arrangements to enable the stable, successful delivery of reforms, and will be accompanied by a new Strategic Policy Statement for Ofwat and a Ministerial Direction for 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 recent progress she has made on enforcing regulations to ban the (a) sale and (b) advertising of tourism activities abroad that involve treatment of animals that is illegal in the UK.

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

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Slough on 26 February 2026 to PQ UIN 114064.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s planned timeline is for the publication of its consultation on the licensing, regulation and inspection of domestic rescue and rehoming organisations in England.

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

The Animal Welfare strategy sets out Government priorities until 2030. Policies will be delivered throughout this time. Next steps on the consultation will be announced in due course.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason small businesses are prohibited from purchasing water and wastewater services directly from local water companies; and whether she plans to review this restriction.

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

Businesses, charities and public sector organisations are free to choose their water retailer for water or sewerage services. Advice for customers on choosing their retailer can be found on Ofwat’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 she has made of the adequacy of the level of administrative and financial processes that small businesses are required to follow by the non‑household water retail market; and whether she plans to reform that market to help reduce those processes for small businesses.

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

We ensure the water retail market is operating effectively and acting as a vehicle to support economic growth and reduce burdens for businesses.

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Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether water companies are required to make an active contribution to the protection and improvement of public health.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Water companies have statutory and regulatory duties to protect and improve public health and actively take steps to meet them. These include completion of risk assessments and the sampling of drinking water supplies that may cause the supply not to be wholesome. “Wholesomeness” is defined in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2016 as water which does not contain any microorganism, parasite, or substance at a concentration or value which would constitute a potential danger to public health.

Where a water company is also legally required to add fluoride to water supplies to improve public health, it must do so in a way that complies with the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s Code of Practice on Technical Aspects of Fluoridation of Water Supplies 2021.

Protecting and improving public health is also a priority in the Government’s planned reforms for the water sector. A new taskforce, led by the Chief Medical Officer for England, will support the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, providing independent and technical advice on public health risks from water and opportunities to improve water treatment and protection.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he intends to use powers in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill to prohibit the sale of vaping devices designed to operate with refill containers that, when attached, resulting in a total liquid capacity exceeding 2ml.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

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

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

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

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

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for its policies on vaping regulation of vaping devices marketed as delivering tends of thousands of puffs.

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

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

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

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

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

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what antimicrobial resistance surveillance is currently conducted on imported foods at the UK border; and how that surveillance aligns with the UK's One Health approach to antimicrobial resistance.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs monitors antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in zoonotic and commensal bacteria from food samples taken from Third Country Imports to the European Union of fresh meat at Northern Ireland’s Points of Entry. This AMR testing is carried out on beef and/or pork and chicken and/or turkey on alternating years. These inspections are carried out in line with and under European Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1729 on the monitoring and reporting of AMR in zoonotic and commensal bacteria, which applies in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

For the rest of the United Kingdom, port health authorities (PHAs) have a statutory obligation to prioritise sampling under official controls which are intended to mitigate known food safety risks. PHAs have their own local sampling plans which will be informed by the UK’s National Monitoring Plan and other intelligence. Currently, it is more practical to sample for AMR screening inland.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is currently funding two AMR surveys at retail which includes testing foods imported into the United Kingdom. This includes the raw frozen chicken meat survey and the eggshell membrane food supplements survey, which includes supplements imported into the UK.

The Government takes a ‘One-Health’ approach to controlling AMR through the UK’s 2024 to 2029 National Action Plan. The FSA leads on AMR in food and promoting good hygienic practices across the food chain. Surveillance improves our understanding of AMR by measuring, predicting, and understanding how resistant microorganisms spread from animals and agriculture to humans via the food chain. This allows decisions to be based on robust surveillance, scientific research, and datasets. We monitor AMR bacteria found in foods to understand trends over several years and detect emerging new threats to protect the public and future effectiveness of antibiotics both in healthcare and animal welfare.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will have discussions with UK industrial hemp producers regarding removing current restrictions on its production and use in UK constructions.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

Cannabis is a Class B controlled drug and can only be cultivated under Home Office licence. The Home Office operates two licensing regimes in respect of cannabis cultivation. The standard cannabis cultivation regime permits the use of the controlled parts of the plant (e.g., leaves and flowers) and the cultivation of high-THC varieties indoors. There must be a lawful purpose, such as pharmaceutical production. The industrial hemp regime permits the cultivation of low-THC varieties to use the non-controlled parts of the plant (mature stalk and seeds), but not the controlled parts of the plant (e.g. flowers and leaves). The Government has introduced two reforms to make it easier for farmers to cultivate industrial hemp. In January 2025, the rules on site sensitively were removed. The duration of licences granted from January 2026 has been extended from three years to six years, with no additional fees, to help businesses plan. The Home Office works closely with DEFRA to ensure a balance between proportionate regulation of cannabis cultivation and provision of opportunity for UK businesses around the use of hemp. As part of this work, officials from both departments have met with UK hemp producers.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether all the UK's marine protected areas are shown on maritime maps.

Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

The UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) is responsible for producing the UK’s maritime navigation charts; the Office operates as an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence. The UKHO only charts UK’s marine protected areas where they have an influence on marine navigation and safety of life at sea.

However, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) independently undertakes marine offshore surveys, monitors marine species, and maps marine and seabed habitats in its advisory capacity for Marine Protected Areas in UK waters; the JNCC is a non-executive public body administered by DEFRA.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 February (HL14539), whether they will ensure that any new water regulations include a clear requirement for water companies to support, maintain and, where appropriate, expand fluoridation schemes in their areas.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The maintenance and expansion of water fluoridation schemes are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991 and associated regulations. These provide the requirements that apply to water companies where my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, proposes to enter, vary, or terminate arrangements for fluoridation of water.

There are no current plans to change these requirements through new regulations. However, the White Paper A New Vision for Water published in January 2026 confirms that, as long term reforms to the water industry are delivered, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will work in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Care to support delivery of 10-Year Health Plan, which includes assessing further expansion of water fluoridation where oral health outcomes are poorest.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will make an assessment of the risks of the use of a) Benthiavalicarb, b) Clofentezine, c) Dimethomorph, d) Dimoxystrobin, e) Flufenacet, f) Ipconazole, g) Mepanipyrim, h) Metribuzin, i) S-metolachlor, and j) Triflusulfuronmethyl, in the context of reports that they pose serious health and environmental risks, including cancer and infertility.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Pesticides are subject to strict regulation in Great Britain (GB) and are only approved on the basis that they will not cause harm to human or animal health, and that there are no unacceptable effects to the GB environment.

If new information comes to light that raises questions over the safety of a pesticide, The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) can and does review active substance approvals under pesticides legislation. HSE is aware of new information which relates to the ten pesticide active substances listed and is working with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, GB governments and, where appropriate, the pesticide producers, to determine what action is most suitable for these substances.

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