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, with reference to the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment's identification of risks to livestock from multiple climate hazards as a priority risk area, what steps her Department is taking to monitor and publish data on farmed animal deaths and welfare impacts from extreme weather; and what plans she has to include such indicators in the fourth National Adaptation Programme.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has a protocol to monitor animal welfare during high-risk weather periods and ensure keepers take steps to mitigate risks. The Food Standards Agency shares data with Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency for welfare issues originating on-farm and during transport. The Government has sought advice from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on the impacts of climate change on farmed animal welfare and potential mitigations. Part 1 of the project is underway and focuses on poultry species, and Part 2 will cover pigs and ruminants. We are currently considering what indicators are included in the fourth Adaptation Plan.
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 her Department is collecting data on the number of flexible crates being installed by pig farmers in England; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of that voluntary transition on the outcomes of the planned consultation on farrowing crate use.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
No such data is being collected on the number of flexible crates being installed. As stated in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government wants to work with industry so that it ends the use of pig farrowing crates. A consultation on the transition to alternative farrowing systems will include an impact assessment and will take place 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, what data her Department holds on the number of farmed animals that have required veterinary attention and/or died on-farm or in transport as a result of heat stress or other extreme weather events in each of the last five years, broken down by species.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government does not hold data on the number of farmed animals that have required veterinary attention and/or died on-farm due to heat stress.
Data from 2022 indicates that, in July and August 2022 when there was unprecedented hot weather in the UK, approximately 30,000 and 27,000 poultry respectively were reported to APHA as dead on arrival at slaughterhouses. The government does not hold such data for the years 2023-2025.
During the red warning period (24th-26th June), approximately 17,000 broilers, 600 hens, 70 turkeys, three pigs and one sheep were reported as dead on arrival at slaughterhouses due to suspected heat stress. Approximately 300 pigs were reported on arrival at slaughterhouses as exhibiting clinical signs consistent with heat stress.
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, if her Department will undertake analysis of modifications required to farmed animal housing and transport in order to safeguard animal welfare in extreme heat.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, Defra has commissioned the Animal Welfare Committee to assess the likely impacts of climate change on farmed animals and what measures could be put in place by the farming sector to protect animals against these effects. We will carefully consider the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations.
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 27 October 2025 to Question 83666, how new permanent legal rights of public access will be created through the Government's proposals for nine new river walks and three new national forests.
Answered by Mary Creagh
Defra’s nine new river walks and three new national forests are being delivered as part of the wider commitment to ensure access to nature for everyone, as set out in the Environmental Improvement plan.
Defra’s river walks programme has the potential to deliver new access and make spaces that are already on people’s doorsteps more accessible and more engaging. Defra has already launched the first new national river walk, the Mersey Valley Way, in the North West. Work on the route has improved access along the path and on the water itself, while supporting community engagement, local volunteering and nature recovery along the river corridor. Defra officials will shortly launch a competition inviting proposals for the next four National River Walks. Defra will consider proposals that create new access and improve existing paths.
All Defra’s new National Forests will be accessible and enjoyable for all. Access will be site-specific and planned in conjunction with the community. The third new national forest will demonstrate how a more accessible natural environment can improve health and wellbeing for those who need it most.
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 the Department is taking towards a ban on bottom trawling in inshore waters.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Our comprehensive network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), now covering 40% of English waters, and over 50% of inshore waters, restrict bottom trawling in sensitive areas.
Not all MPAs require restrictions on bottom trawling for example some mobile species features such as seabirds. Of the 159 MPAs in English inshore waters, most are already protected by some form of byelaw regulating the use of bottom towed gear. Monitoring and control plans are in place for all inshore MPAs.
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 action plan for the Good Food Cycle will be published.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Good Food Cycle, published in July 2025, set out the Government’s long-term vision for the UK food system, defining shared outcomes for a more resilient, affordable, healthy and sustainable future. Delivery against these outcomes is already underway across Government. This includes action to improve access to healthier and more affordable food, support sector growth, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
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, if she will publish a list of external stakeholders who have been consulted on the development of legislation to end the sales and supply of horticultural peat products.
Answered by Mary Creagh
Defra has engaged extensively with a broad range of stakeholders in the development of policy to end the sale of peat and peat containing products. This has included representatives from the horticulture sector, environmental organisations, retailers, growers, and delivery bodies.
Given the breadth and ongoing nature of this engagement Defra does not hold a single consolidated list of all stakeholders consulted that could be published in a meaningful or proportionate way. However, engagement has been conducted in line with standard consultation practices, including formal public consultations and targeted stakeholder discussions.
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 she has taken to prohibit tail docking in pigs in the context of the new animal welfare strategy; and whether she plans to review the interpretation, application or enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to ensure commercial interests are not prioritised over the protection of animals.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare Act 2006 prohibits procedures which involve interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal. The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007 list exemptions, including pig tail docking, to which the prohibition does not apply in certain circumstances
The Department has recently engaged with the Pig Veterinary Society and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to reduce the prevalence of pig tail docking by working with the industry and the veterinary profession. Defra is now carefully considering the appropriate next steps, including the possibility of developing further guidance.
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, if she will set out the timetable for the publication of information on the total annual use of peat in the UK horticultural market during the period 1 January to 31 December 2024.
Answered by Mary Creagh
Our contractors are currently collecting and collating the usage of peat and peat free alternative growing media for 2024 and 2025. We will publish this data in due course.