Asked by: Lee Pitcher (Labour - Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme)
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 case for appointing a Minister to lead water safety and drowning prevention.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Water safety and drowning prevention are of critical importance and span a broad range of issues, including education, public health, emergency response, local government, recreation and navigation. Responsibility therefore sits across a number of organisations and Government departments.
Defra has worked with navigation authorities, regulators, water companies and other Government departments to improve cooperation, information sharing and preparedness, particularly ahead of periods of increased recreational activity.
I convened a roundtable in July with ministers and representatives from across Government to discuss water safety and ensure departments are working with arm’s length bodies and key partners to reinforce the importance of keeping people safe around water.
Asked by: Lee Pitcher (Labour - Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish a response to the public consultation on Water Efficiency Standards in the Building Regulations (2010), which closed on 16 December 2025.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Department is taking steps to mitigate water demand from new housing developments in water stressed regions. Policy amendments considering the tightening of Water Efficiency Standards in Building Regulations have been tested through a public consultation which ran from September to December 2025.
The Government response, to be jointly issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is expected in Summer 2026. The response will set out how we will tighten water efficiency standards in new homes to protect water stressed regions. As well as a plan to enable non-potable water, including rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse, in all new homes over the next 10 years.
Asked by: Lee Pitcher (Labour - Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme)
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 has made an assessment of the potential impact of food imports produced to lower animal welfare standards on the competitiveness of UK farmers.
Answered by Angela Eagle - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Government shares the public’s high regard for the high animal welfare standards we have in this country; they are one of the selling points of our British farming industry and are greatly valued by consumers both at home and abroad.
As set out in the UK’s Trade Strategy, the department will not lower food standards and will uphold high animal welfare standards. Defra recognises concerns about methods of production, such as sow stalls and battery cages, which are not permitted in the UK. While production methods vary in line with different climates, diseases and other contextual reasons, we will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage and any impact that may have. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at our disposal to protect our most sensitive sectors.
Asked by: Lee Pitcher (Labour - Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme)
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 promote water reuse.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government recognises that recycled water e.g. from rainwater or domestic greywater showers play a key role in helping non-household users and businesses meet the statutory water demand reduction target of 20% by March 2038. We encourage water companies and developers to move from potable water to recycled sources where possible.
To enable reuse in households, we are working to support the water sector to supply treated, non-potable water, including rainwater, for certain water demands such as toilet flushing. To support this, Ofwat consulted on environmental incentives for developers which considered where recycled water could be integrated into buildings and developments, and acknowledged the importance of recycled water to reducing pressure on the water system