Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the independent report Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2025: infections, published on 4 December 2025, what action they plan to take in response to the specific additional recommendation about the link between agricultural use of novel fungicides and the spread of resistant strains of fungi with the capacity to cause serious disease.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government recognises the importance of carefully managing pesticide use, including fungicides, to protect the environment and human health and address the risks of resistance.
During the plant protection product approvals process, the Health and Safety Executive considers the potential for resistance development in the target pest organism. Where resistance is known or anticipated, limitations are placed on product use to mitigate resistance developing. Defra is also funding work by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board which provides farmers best practice to minimise the risk of resistance emerging.
Through the National Institute for Health and Care Research, the Department of Health and Social Care has provided over £12 million in funding over the last five years for research into fungal infections and tackling antifungal resistance. Defra has also co-funded a research programme for UK Research and Innovation on ‘Transdisciplinary research to tackle antimicrobial resistance’.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is routinely monitoring threats from antifungal resistance. The National Mycology Reference Laboratory performs antifungal susceptibility testing of fungi from human infections from across the UK. UKHSA also monitors antifungal susceptibility testing data for fungal yeast pathogens isolated from blood samples from local microbiology laboratories in England. Trends are published annually.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce explicit requirements in the pesticide approval process to assess evidence on antifungal cross-resistance in non-target fungi; and what timetable they have set for any such changes.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Currently HSE considers the potential for resistance development in the target pest organism during the plant protection product approvals process. Where resistance is known or anticipated, HSE place specific limitations on the use of the product to help mitigate the likelihood and speed of resistance development. There are currently no plans to make changes to the process for regulating plant protection products.
Nevertheless, this Government recognises the dangers of anti-microbial resistance, including cross-resistance from fungicides. Defra is taking action to address the risks of resistance building by empowering farmers to make informed decisions as they manage pests, weeds and diseases. We have funded a roadshow, led by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), that is delivering practical advice to help farmers and agronomists to minimise the risk of resistance developing. This will run until March 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to follow the plan set out in the English Aquaculture Strategy, published in November 2020, in particular the target of a 75 per cent increase in seafood consumption by 2040.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to supporting the sustainable, industry‑led growth of the aquaculture sector, and the English Aquaculture Strategy sets out the aquaculture sector’s ambitions for 2040.
We have no plans for a legally binding food production target, but as we develop plans to support delivery of the food strategy outcomes, we are focussed on securing resilient domestic production that supports good growth and enhances domestic food security.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to conduct a feasibility study on what percentage of imported plants can be grown in the UK; and if so, what steps they will take to develop an action plan for imported productive and ornamental trees.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises the importance of imported plants to support domestic horticultural production; and continues to work with the sector through regular engagement with the Environmental Horticulture Group—a coalition of industry leaders from across the sector—to support the production of trees and plants grown in the UK.
In 2024 the UK imported approximately 120 million trees, shrubs and bushes, down from 216 million in 2020. However, during the same period the net mass rose from 43 tonnes to 119 tonnes, indicating an increase in larger plants. We operate a robust, risk-based import regime to manage biosecurity risks and meet World Trade Organisation obligations.
Defra and the Forestry Commission are delivering measures to strengthen domestic tree production, including capital grants, knowledge sharing and sector collaboration. In 2025, up to £7.5 million was awarded through the Tree Production Innovation Fund, Seed Sourcing Grant and Tree Production Capital Grant. These initiatives ensure a reliable supply of high-quality, biosecure trees to meet the UK’s planting ambitions.
The Forestry Commission also publishes the annual Tree Supply Report, which shows that in 2024 more than 161 million saplings were grown in British forest nurseries.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) agricultural composting facilities, (2) green waste, and (3) crop residue piles, as potential reservoirs for azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus; and what plans they have to improve surveillance of that issue.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In support of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) national action plan commitments, the Environment Agency (EA) actively carries out research into environmental transmission and risks associated with antimicrobial resistance. This includes research on monitoring antifungal resistance and bioaerosols.
The EA recognises the potential human health impacts of bioaerosols, particularly on the respiratory system. The EA actively regulates bioaerosol risks from waste treatment, including open composting of green wastes and digestate fibres. Regulated activities must hold a permit. Higher risk facilities monitor bioaerosol emissions including aspergillus fumigatus. These controls developed from over a decade of research collaboration with the EA, academia and industry.
External crop residue storage (non-waste) at anaerobic digestion (AD) sites does not require a permit. However, Defra has recently concluded a consultation on regulatory reform to include non-waste AD facilities. The reform has potential scope to align non-waste AD with regulated waste AD under the Environmental Permitting Regulations.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to penalise catering outlets for any unreasonable refusal to provide drinks in customer-owned reusable cups.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to reducing single‑use packaging waste and supporting packaging reuse. We recognise that many consumers wish to use their own reusable cups, and many businesses already accommodate this.
At present, we do not have plans to introduce penalties for catering outlets that decline to serve drinks in customer‑owned reusable cups.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government why biomedia released from wastewater treatments plants is not treated as hazardous waste.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water companies must ensure all reasonable measures are in place to prevent the unauthorised or accidental escape of bio-media from wastewater treatment works to the environment.
The Environment Agency (EA) is working alongside the water sector on an ongoing research project, led by UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), looking at the complex issue of the impact of microplastics generated by wastewater treatment works.
In the event of any escape of bio-media from wastewater treatment works above permitted controls or that may cause significant pollution, Water Companies must immediately report this as a pollution incident to the EA, which will investigate and take necessary enforcement action. The Secretary of State for Defra has written to Water Companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is, and to stress the positive action Water Companies must take to ensure their infrastructure is functioning correctly.
Under waste regulations and mandatory guidance in place, waste bio-media classification depends on the properties of the specific material. Where it is above the relevant thresholds for hazardous properties, then it would be classified as a hazardous waste.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have offered any advice to the Royal Household regarding Royal Warrant Holders Association regarding welfare concerns in salmon farming.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has not offered any advice to the Royal Household regarding animal welfare concerns and salmon farming.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to align the UK’s import policy with forthcoming EU measures prohibiting products from regions where antibiotics are used for growth promotion.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has begun negotiations with the EU on an SPS agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier, cutting costs and removing barriers to trade for British producers and retailers.
The agreement will cover SPS standards and controls and also wider agrifood rules related to food labelling, organics, key marketing standards and compositional standards - as well as pesticides.
Detail as to what will be included in the scope of the agreement remains subject to negotiations, and we will not be providing a running commentary.
The use of antibiotics for growth promoters has been banned in the UK and the EU since 2006. With good farming practices, the UK does not consider that using antibiotics for growth promotion is necessary and strongly advocates for phasing out the use of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion globally, in line with Codex standards and WOAH guidelines.
Asked by: Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what protocols are in place to monitor the environmental and public health impacts of plastic biomedia or bio-beads in wastewater treatment plants.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Bio-beads must comply with all material content regulations and standards when supplied.
The Environment Agency (EA) is working alongside the water sector on an ongoing research project, led by UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), looking at the complex issue of the impact of microplastics generated by wastewater treatment works.
In the event of any escape of bio media from wastewater treatment works above permitted controls or that may cause significant pollution, Water Companies must immediately report this as a pollution incident to the EA, which will investigate and take necessary enforcement action. The Secretary of State for Defra has written to Water Companies to reiterate how unacceptable the pollution incident at Camber Sands is, and to stress the positive action Water Companies must take to ensure their infrastructure is functioning correctly.