Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Department has made in working with industry to develop a more flexible approach to nitrate vulnerable zone closed periods, as previously proposed; and whether they will publish any findings from that work.

We have committed to reform the agricultural water regulations and making them fit for purpose for protecting the environment and supporting good farm businesses. We continue to work with farming and environmental groups to explore how the regulations could better deliver this, including to reflect and drive ​good nutrient management practices.