Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 fast-growing broiler chicken breeds compared with slower-growing breeds on welfare; and whether she plans to develop a pathway to phase out the use of fast-growing breeds in favour of higher-welfare alternatives.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has considered the findings from the Defra-funded Systematic Review of Evidence on Livestock Breeding, conducted by Queen’s University Belfast, on the potential welfare implications of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds compared to slower growing breeds. As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government is considering how we can support voluntary efforts to move away from the use of fast-growing meat chicken breeds.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 end overfishing and support the recovery of fish stocks in UK waters.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Protecting and restoring fish stocks is a priority for this Government. We are implementing evidence-based Fisheries Management Plans, which set out actions to maintain or restore stocks to sustainable levels.
For stocks shared with other coastal states, we negotiate catch limits and other management measures informed by the best available scientific advice. Sustainability will remain central to our approach to negotiations for 2027 fishing opportunities, alongside consideration of the fishing industry and coastal communities.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 reducing the use of plastic packaging for unprocessed fruit and vegetables; and what steps her Department is taking to encourage a reduction in such packaging.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to reducing unnecessary plastic packaging for unprocessed fruit and vegetables, while ensuring food safety, product protection and avoiding increased food waste. pEPR incentivises producers to reduce packaging, increase reuse and improve recyclability. Government supports WRAP’s Packaging Pact, helping businesses address packaging challenges and accelerate circular solutions.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 to help ensure that local air quality action plans identify pollution hotspots and include measures to protect people who are vulnerable to poor air quality, including people with cystic fibrosis.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Local authorities should consider the local public health benefits of addressing air pollution in their action plans, including through the input of Directors of Public Health.
Defra supports local authority action through appraising action plans and reviewing progress annually to ensure measures remain effective. As set out in the Environment Improvement Plan 2025, we are also refreshing guidance, webinars, and materials for local air quality officers.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 Marine Protected Areas that protect harbour porpoises are safeguarded from destructive fishing methods.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is currently assessing the impacts of fishing on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) designated to protect harbour porpoise, as part of stage 4 of its programme to manage fishing in England’s offshore MPAs. A call for evidence was completed in 2023 and a period of further engagement with stakeholders was held over recent months. The MMO is now considering a range of management options and will consult before making any final decisions.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to end the use of fast-growing broiler chicken breeds in UK poultry production.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 16 March 2026 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 118907.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 environmental and animal welfare impacts of the breeding, release and shooting of game birds, and whether she plans to introduce a ban on these practices.
Answered by Stephen Morgan - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government has no plans to ban the breeding, release or shooting of gamebirds. However, gamebird shooting can have trade-offs with environmental, economic, and animal health and welfare outcomes and we want to ensure the highest standards of practice are consistently applied. To achieve this, Defra will work with stakeholders to explore wider measures, and this will begin with evidence gathering. Any proposed changes will be subject to public consultation.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 (a) the UK Forest Risk Commodities Regulations operate on a shared responsibility basis and (b) compliance costs are borne by downstream companies.
Answered by Mary Creagh
The Government recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is currently considering its approach to addressing the impact of the use of forest risk commodities in our supply chains and will set out its approach in due course.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 launch a consultation on phasing out the use of carbon dioxide to slaughter pigs.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
As set out in this Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
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 impact of implementing the Fingleton Nuclear Regulatory Review on existing environmental protections.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra worked closely with DESNZ and other government departments to consider how to implement the recommendations of the Nuclear Regulatory Review, whilst taking account of our international obligations and our important environmental protections.
Our approach to achieve this is set out in the implementation plan published on 13 March 2026. The implementation plan sets out how we can simplify regulations and processes for new nuclear projects whilst continuing to protect the environment.