Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the governance structure of the distinct technical and Ministerial working groups, in relation to the British Antarctic Territories, named in the UK Overseas Territories biodiversity strategy published on 12 January 2026.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy sets out the UK strategy to conserve, protect, and restore biodiversity in the UK Overseas Territories. This joint strategy has been developed by Defra in partnership with Overseas Territories Governments and Administrations.
The UK Government will work with the Territories in close partnership to implement this strategy, including through distinct technical and Ministerial working groups.
The governance structure of the working groups is under development.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 conservation and education activities by zoos and aquariums on the economy.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, all licensed zoos and aquariums in Great Britain must undertake conservation work including promoting public education and awareness in relation to the conservation of biodiversity. Defra has not undertaken an assessment of the impact of these requirements on the economy.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 with industry leaders to help reduce the prevalence of microplastics in foodstuffs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with industry to ensure UK food safety, enforcing strict rules on plastic food contact materials to prevent contamination. Microplastics are not intentionally added to food but may appear due to pollution or plastic breakdown in general. The FSA monitors ongoing research, provides scientific advice, and supports strategies to reduce plastic pollution and microplastic entry into the food chain.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 trends in the level of microplastics in the British food chain.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to monitor and assess emerging data regarding microplastics in food. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT), an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the FSA and other Government departments, is currently considering the issue of microplastics. The FSA is keeping the issue of microplastics under review as new evidence becomes available.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 Animal Welfare Strategy for England published on 22 December 2025, when she expects to launch consultations on (a) phasing out enriched colony cages for laying hens, (b) transitioning away from pig farrowing crates, and (c) ending the use of high concentration carbon dioxide for stunning pigs; and when she expects to publish the Government’s response to each consultation.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The consultation on a proposal to ban the keeping of laying hens in cages was launched on 12 January 2026 and will close on 9 March 2026. For pig farrowing crates, we want to work with industry to explore how to transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems: either flexible or free farrowing. We will consult on the transition in due course.
The Government accepts that there is a pressing need to address the welfare concerns associated with high concentration carbon dioxide stunning of pigs. As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, and following the Animal Welfare Committee’s report on the topic, we will consult on banning the use of carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs. Further details will be set out later this year.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 Animal Welfare Strategy for England published on 22 December 2025, what steps her Department is taking to (a) track and (b) publicly report enforcement actions taken in response to animal welfare non-compliance in the farming sector; which enforcement bodies will be included; what categories of enforcement action will be reported; and when she expects to publish the first report covering the 2026 calendar year.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local authorities will submit annual returns detailing compliance support and actions taken in cases of non-compliance within the farming sector. Data will be incorporated into Annual Reports on Official Controls performed in Great Britain under the OCR Multi-Annual National Control Plan. The Annual Reports are published online and set out official controls across the UK agri-food system, including animal welfare. From 2027, the Annual Reports will consolidate enforcement actions from the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and local authorities in a single report. Enhanced data collection will enable comprehensive reporting of enforcement measures, including warnings, improvement notices and penalties. The first report covering the 2026 calendar year is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 Animal Welfare Strategy for England published on 22 December 2025, when she expects to consult on and introduce legislation to strengthen protections for farmed fish at slaughter; and if she will publish the timetable for commissioning and receiving expert advice on farmed fish welfare prior to slaughter.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out our priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements we aim to achieve by 2030.
As laid out in the strategy, and following the Animal Welfare Committee’s report on the topic, the Government will consult on introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish into legislation. Further details will be set out in due course.
A project to better understand the welfare of farmed fish prior to slaughter has been included in the Animal Welfare Committee Workplan for 2026, which can be found here. Amongst other things the project will include an assessment of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 work to reduce instances of crime against animals.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has taken steps to reduce crime against animals. We have provided over £800,000 in additional funding to the National Wildlife Crime Unit and the National Rural Crime Unit to strengthen enforcement against offences such as poaching and illegal wildlife trade. There are strong penalties in place for offences committed against wildlife and kept animals. For kept animals we have Penalty Notices for Animal Health and Welfare Offences, giving enforcement bodies a proportionate tool for lower-level breaches. For serious animal welfare offences courts can now impose up to five years’ imprisonment for the most serious cruelty offences under the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act. These measures improve deterrence and ensure justice.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 consult UK maritime stakeholders on the implementation of the UN Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra will be launching a consultation on implementation of Part IV of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement on Environmental Impact Assessments. Through this consultation, we will seek information from UK maritime stakeholders on marine activities occurring in areas beyond national jurisdiction and views on marine licensing regime arrangements.
The proposed changes in the consultation will be further to provisions in Part 4 of the BBNJ Bill which was introduced in Parliament on 10 September 2025.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Reform UK - Romford)
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 work with local authorities to improve the safety of footpaths.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local highway authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of public rights of way (and ensuring they are free from obstructions).
They are required to keep a Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) to plan improvements to the rights of way network in their area for all users. These are available on the authority’s website. This must include an assessment of the local rights of way including the condition of the network.
Local authorities are best placed to understand local priorities and allocate funding for rights of way activities accordingly.