Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the economic contribution of farming to (a) Derbyshire and (b) South Derbyshire constituency.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not produce constituency level estimates of the economic contribution of farming. Regional estimates are produced at international territorial levels (ITL) 1, 2 and 3, with ITL3 being the most granular geographical breakdown.
In 2023, total income from farming for the three Derbyshire ITL3 regions was £0.13 million for Derby, £11.84 million for East Derbyshire and £36.69 million for South and West Derbyshire. Full details are available here.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 make an estimate of the economic contribution of farming in Derbyshire.
Answered by Daniel Zeichner - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra does not produce county level estimates of the economic contribution of farming so no estimates are available for Derbyshire. Estimates are only available at regional level.
The total income from farming for the East Midlands region (which includes Derbyshire) in 2023 was £835 million. Full details are available here: Total Income from Farming in the regions of England in 2023 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Samantha Niblett (Labour - South Derbyshire)
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 make an assessment of the water quality of the river ways in (a) Derbyshire and (b) South Derbyshire constituency.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Cleaning up England’s rivers, lakes and seas is a priority for the Government. The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address water companies who are not performing for the environment or their customers.
In September, the Government introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July, HCWS3.
The majority of the Derbyshire catchment is currently classified as moderate water quality for ecological status.
In May, the Environment Agency (EA) confirmed a tougher inspections and enforcement regime that will be backed by at least £55 million each year and will make better use of data analytics and technology. This will be fully funded through a combination of increased grant-in-aid from Defra to the EA and additional funding from water company permit charges.