Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of capital spending on flooding will be allocated to (a) hard infrastructure and (b) nature-based solutions.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
At the Spending Review on 11 June the Government announced a record £4.2 billion investment over three years (2026/27 to 2028/29) to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The list of projects to receive government funding will be agreed in the usual way, on an annual basis, through Regional Flood and Coastal Committees, with local representation.
Future flood investment schemes will also be subject to our currently open consultation on proposals to reform the way we fund flood and coastal defences. This new approach will make it easier to invest in natural flood management schemes that also boost nature, water resources and fight climate change.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the (a) Landscape Recovery and (b) Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship schemes will be re-opened for applications.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
A) The Government reconfirmed its commitment to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes in the recent Spending Review. Landscape Recovery projects that were awarded funding in rounds one and two are continuing, and we are moving into the delivery phase with the first round of projects. Plans for a third round of Landscape Recovery will be confirmed in due course.
B) Defra is rolling out the improved Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme this year. We have invited farmers and land managers to begin the pre-application process. There will be opportunities for other farmers and land managers to access CSHT in the future. More details on the timing and approach to widening applications will be published later this year.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing a consultation on banning farrowing crates.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the food strategy complies with the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The food strategy will articulate outcomes required to deliver food system change, and all outcomes will comply with the law.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution of precision bred (a) crops and (b) foods to the economy (i) in each of the next seven years and (ii) from 2032.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department has taken an evidence-based approach, underpinned by expert scientific advice and published data, to estimate the impacts of implementing the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
This includes the Department’s De Minimis Assessment of the impacts of The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Regulations 2025, which covers a 10-year period. The De Minimis Assessment has been compiled by Defra economists and reviewed by the Defra Chief Economist.
This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
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 membership of the Chair of Cranswick plc on the Food Strategy Advisory Board.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra has no current plans to review membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board. Members are senior leaders who represent important elements within the food system and the diversity of the sector, appointed for their individual experience and standing. Members do not represent their business interests.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much and what proportion of funding for (a) agricultural genetic modification research and development and (b) precision breeding techniques has been allocated to (i) non-UK companies and (ii) UK companies in each of the last 10 years.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Innovate UK invested £0.15 million (2023) and £1.2 million (2024) into UK companies undertaking research using precision breeding techniques in crops and farmed animals. Innovate UK has not funded any agricultural genetic modification research and development over the last 10 years, nor has it funded any non-UK based companies.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of precision breeding on market concentration in the agricultural sector.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 will reduce barriers to entry for businesses, evening the playing field between SMEs and large multinationals in the agricultural sector.
Internationally, countries that have chosen to regulate precision bred products differently from Genetically Modified Organisms have seen a ‘democratisation’ of the technology, leading to a greater proportion of applications being submitted by SMEs and local businesses.
This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
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 April 2025 to Question 44673 on Horticulture: Peat, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the time taken to ban sales of horticulture peat on relevant (a) businesses and (b) supply chains.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not undertaken a separate assessment, but will publish the GMM stats in due course.
Asked by: Adrian Ramsay (Green Party - Waveney Valley)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the Growing Media Monitor peat use figures for 2023.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
We have not undertaken a separate assessment, but will publish the GMM stats in due course.