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 has taken to work with the (a) Environment Agency and (b) trade unions to provide a settlement to end industrial action.

My Department works closely with the Environment Agency through the provision of its Corporate Services, including HR, to support it in developing a pay offer for its staff that whilst ensuring it meets the requirements of the government’s pay guidance of the day. The Environment Agency, as a non-departmental public body, recognises trade unions for the purposes of collective bargaining including pay, and rightfully conducts its own relevant consultation and negotiations on such matters.