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 improve water access for agricultural producers during periods of drought.

Farmers can apply to the Environment Agency for temporary abstraction flexibilities where environmental impacts can be appropriately managed. The Environment Agency brought forward reservoir refilling for eligible farmers by one month and allows additional abstraction during flood warnings. We are also providing up to £15 million to support investment in on-farm reservoirs.