theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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James Naish:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to tackle (a) wildlife crime, (b) hare coursing and (c) badger baiting. \p Mary Creagh: Wildlife crime is unacceptable. Defra is providing £424,000 for the National Wildlife Crime (NWCU) in 2025-2026. The NWCU helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and assisting law enforcers with investigations.

This government recognises the importance of tackling rural crimes such as hare coursing. A package of measures introduced in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 broadened the circumstances in which police can investigate and bring charges for hare coursing-related activity. This legislation, as well as improved police tactics, intelligence and information sharing and the use of community protection notices and criminal behaviour orders appears to be having an impact on reducing hare coursing offences.

Badger persecution is one of the seven UK wildlife crime priorities. A police-led Badger Persecution Priority Delivery Group works to tackle horrific criminal offences like badger baiting. Anyone found guilty of these activities should be subject to the full force of the law. The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 provide protection against certain methods of killing, injuring, or taking of badgers, or interference with their setts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with industry stakeholders on the Forest Risk Commodities regulations. \p Mary Creagh: We recognise the need to take action to prevent UK consumption of forest risk commodities driving deforestation and to consult industry stakeholders.

We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Paul Davies:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the Forest Risk Commodities regulations. \p Mary Creagh: The Government recognises the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Alex Ballinger:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the (a) value for money and (b) effectiveness of weekly food waste recycling collections by local authorities. \p Mary Creagh: A value for money assessment was made in the Simpler Recycling impact assessment available here: The Separation of Waste (England) Regulations 2025, published in December 2024. The effectiveness of weekly food waste recycling collections by local authorities will be made in the Resources and Waste Policy Programme Evaluation, which we expect to be published around 2029.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Josh Newbury:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that cartons collected by local authorities (a) currently and (b) following the implementation of Simpler Recycling requirements are (i) recycled and (ii) not sent for (A) incineration and (B) refuse-derived fuel production. \p Mary Creagh: The Simpler Recycling reforms will require the same materials to be collected for recycling from every household and workplace (such as businesses, schools and hospitals) across England. These materials fall into the following core groups: metal; glass; plastic: paper and card; food waste; garden waste (household only). This includes cartons (as part of the plastics recyclable waste stream). These materials must be collected for recycling or composting.

The Environmental (England and Wales) Permitting Regulations 2016 include permit conditions for landfill and incineration operators, meaning they cannot accept separately collected paper, metal, glass or plastic for landfill or incineration unless it has gone through some form of treatment process first and is the best environmental outcome.

Defra is currently strengthening the evidence base regarding waste and recycling infrastructure needs and we will continue to work closely with key stakeholders including local authorities and waste management companies on this. We recently published a Recycling Infrastructure Capacity Analysis with WRAP. This should provide a signal to investors as to where there could be a likely over or under-provision of waste management capacity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the use of single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables in supermarkets. \p Mary Creagh: This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy for plastics – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives.

The Government’s funding of WRAP, who run the UK Plastics Pact (UKPP), has seen significant progression across industry. Members have increased the average recycled content in their packaging from 8.5% in 2018 to 24.1%. UKPP members cover the entire plastics value chain and are responsible for the majority of plastic packaging sold through UK supermarkets, and approximately two thirds of the total plastic packaging placed on the UK market. Since 2018, additional progress from members includes a 55% reduction by weight sold of the items listed as problematic and avoidable in 2018; 71% of their plastic packaging is now recyclable (up from 66% in 2018); and 55% of their plastic packaging is recycled (up from 44% in 2018).

The Government also supports innovation, having funded over 80 projects on innovative solutions to plastic packaging through the Smart Sustainable Plastic Packaging Challenge (SSPP), managed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach, in line with circular economy principles, to reduce the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products and encourage reuse solutions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor the impact of extended producer responsibility fees on the growth of the hospitality industry. \p Mary Creagh: Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) is being evaluated as part of the Resources and Waste Policy Programme Evaluation for England, and the UK-wide elements of the Collection and Packaging Reforms (CPR) Evaluation. This evaluation includes reviewing the impacts on businesses who are obligated packaging producers. The combined evaluation programme is expected to report in 2029. The Government has also committed to a post-implementation review on the impacts of pEPR in 2027/2028 financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42597 on Packaging: Recycling, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the differential in weight between glass and plastic on glass producers. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme. This impact assessment included an estimate for pEPR fees per tonne of packaging material. This estimate did not split by packaging material type.

Defra officials have engaged with industry and technical experts, to ensure that the modelling of local authority costs accurately reflect the on the ground reality of waste management. This confirmed that packaging volumes, rather than weight, are accounted for when determining the costs of kerbside dry recycling collections. This is especially important for heavier materials such as glass which would see higher base fees under a weight-based apportionment of these costs. Illustrative base fees for the 8 material categories have now been published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Noah Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) assessments and (b) controls are in place to ensure the (i) integrity and (ii) effectiveness of measures implemented to achieve biodiversity net gains in development projects. \p Mary Creagh: Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a mandatory requirement in the planning process, and developments (unless exempt) need to submit information to the relevant local planning authority to demonstrate how they intend to deliver a 10% ‘net gain’ calculated using the statutory BNG metric. This could be through measures taken on-site, off-site or by purchasing government issued credits as a last resort. Any significant on-site (and any off-site) gains must include a legal agreement (covering at least 30 years) and a habitat management and monitoring plan as part of their application.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43886 on Sustainable Farming Incentive, what estimate his Department has made of the number of farmers impacted by the closure of the scheme; and whether they will be prioritised in future schemes. \p Daniel Zeichner: Currently there are over 39, 000 live SFI agreements.

The government will work with the farming and environmental sectors to prioritise funding for future years so we can target SFI actions fairly and effectively, focusing on helping less productive land contribute to our priorities for food, farming and nature.

We will provide further details about the reformed SFI in summer 2025.
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Ian Roome:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of new Sustainable Farming Incentive of agreements on the rural economy. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period. SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package - across England, 50,000 farm businesses and over half of farmed land are already in agri-environmental schemes.

The department publish regular statistics on Farm Business Income. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK. On the 11th of March 2025 we published forecasts which suggest that average Farm Business Income has risen in 2024/25 across all farm types with the exception of cereal farms.
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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with industry representatives on taking steps to support the transportation of milling wheat for food production. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra regularly engages with industry and across Government to monitor risks to food supply. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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James Cartlidge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 March 2025 to Question 39920 on Sustainable Farming Incentive: South Suffolk, how many of the 154 farmers primarily farm (a) arable crops, (b) horticultural crops, (c) permanent grass, (d) cattle, (e) sheep & lambs, (f) pigs and (g) poultry. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra does not hold data on farming business types for the Sustainable Farming Incentive.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting RSPCA investigators statutory powers to gather evidence. \p Daniel Zeichner: There are no current plans to expand statutory powers in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to include RSPCA inspectors. The RSPCA has strong working relationships with the Police and Local Authorities who support them in protecting animals where needed.

The Government recognises the valuable work the RSPCA does to improve the welfare of animals and remains committed to working with the RSPCA, and other organisations involved in enforcement activities, so that our high animal welfare standards are maintained and offenders are subject to appropriate penalties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide the 2024-25 spend figures to date for the Farming and Countryside Programme to match the categories set out in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024. \p Daniel Zeichner: The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes.

Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.

In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to help promote the purchase of British food. \p Daniel Zeichner: The cross-Government food strategy will restore pride in British food by ensuring a food system that backs British food, grows the economy, feeds the nation, nourishes individuals, and protects the planet, now and in the future.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants there were to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in (i) 2023 and (ii) each year since its creation. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) runs from 01 January – 31 December. In relation to the 2023 scheme year, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received 32 successful applications by recognised Producer Organisations (POs). There were no unsuccessful applications during the same period.

The scheme was first introduced in 1996 and the number of UK-recognised Producer Organisations (POs) has varied overtime, but now there are 32 F&V POs across the UK. Each recognized PO will submit an application for an operational programme (OP) or amendment to that OP each year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to (a) Agricultural Property Relief, (b) Sustainable Farming Incentive and (c) other financial subsidies on the mental health of farmers. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government is committed to supporting the mental health of those working in farming and agriculture.

The Government believes its reforms to agricultural property relief and business property relief from 6 April 2026 get the balance right between supporting farms and businesses and fixing the public finances in a fair way. With the reforms, those assets will be taxed at a much lower effective rate than most other assets. Despite a tough fiscal context, the Government will maintain very significant levels of relief from inheritance tax beyond what is available to others and compared to the position before 1992.

The Government continues to fund the Farmer Welfare Grant. This currently funds three charities to deliver projects which support mental health and build resilience in local farming communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Pippa Heylings:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support nature-friendly farming. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is supporting farmers to implement nature-friendly farming practices through a range of measures. These include habitat restoration and creation, and changes to limit emissions while maintaining agricultural profitability and increasing productivity.

These measures will be delivered through the Government’s environmental land management schemes. In the Budget announced in October 2024, the Government committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes in 2025/26.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) airports and (b) ports are announcing the ban on  personal imports of (i) meat and (ii) dairy products to travellers from EU countries. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has been engaging with airports, ports and travel operators to communicate the ban on personal imports of meats and dairy products from EU countries, introduced on 12 April 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ letter of 8 April 2025 to Northern Ireland Executive colleagues, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the (a) additional confirmed cases in Hungary and (b) advent of confirmed cases in Slovakia of Foot and Mouth disease. \p Daniel Zeichner: Although I was not an addressee of the letter mentioned and therefore cannot reference it directly, this Government will be decisive and take the necessary action to ensure the UK’s biosecurity measures protect our farms from the risk posed by Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). We’ve stepped up measures to prevent the incursion of FMD following the spread of cases in Hungary and Slovakia, including a case close to Slovakia’s border with Austria. The Government immediately implemented restrictions on broad categories of products ranging from fresh milk, dairy products, meat from susceptible animals to hay and straw from Hungary, Slovakia and Austria to Great Britain to protect the UK’s freedom from FMD, in addition to restrictions already in place for equivalent exports from Germany to Great Britain following a separate outbreak of FMD in Germany in January.

In line with the requirement to recognise regionalisation, these imports are also prohibited into Northern Ireland from the disease control zones in force surrounding each of the infected premises in the EU. We continue to review the situation, working with our disease experts and EU counterparts. Livestock keepers are urged to be extra vigilant and report any suspicion of FMD or other notifiable disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency in Great Britain and to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in Northern Ireland.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Clive Lewis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to update the Greening Government Commitments to include commuting. \p Mary Creagh: The government is currently reviewing the Greening Government Commitments to ensure they remain aligned with government priorities.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 43003 on Chemicals Regulation, if he will publish the projected cost of UK REACH to the Environment Agency in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency has been allocated £1.8 million from Defra in 2025/26 to deliver its statutory duties under UK REACH.
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Munira Wilson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of (a) banning and (b) reducing the use of pesticides in public spaces on (i) the natural environment and (ii) wildlife. \p Emma Hardy: The Government recognises the importance of managing public spaces sustainably and its first priority is to ensure that pesticides do not harm human or animal health or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. A pesticide may only be placed on the market following a thorough risk assessment that concludes all safety standards are met. All professional pesticide users must minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the public, receive adequate training and register with Defra.

They are also encouraged to follow the principles of Integrated Pest Management, which aims to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides by making use of lower risk alternatives and promoting natural processes. The UK Pesticides National Action Plan sets out how the Government will continue to promote the sustainable use of pesticides. Local authorities are encouraged to identify innovative pesticide use solutions and share good practice.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the level of funds invested by Chinese firms in the UK water sector in the next ten years. \p Emma Hardy: The Government recognises the important role of independent regulation in attracting the investment our water sector needs to deliver for both current and future consumers. We are aware there has been investment into the water sector in the UK by Chinese investors. Under Ofwat’s current processes, Ofwat are notified of acquisitions in line with water company licence conditions.

Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator, protects the interests of consumers by making sure water companies carry out their statutory functions and are financially resilient as well as holding them to account on overall performance and delivery of essential services.

These same standards and licence conditions apply across all water companies, regardless of whether they are owned by foreign or domestic investors.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to revise guidance issued to producers on obligations under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: The pEPR Scheme Administrator, working with the relevant UK regulator, will revise producer guidance, where appropriate, to assist them in understanding and meeting their obligations under the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024.
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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the level of global deforestation on economic growth in the UK in the next five years. \p Mary Creagh: The Government has no plans to assess how global deforestation specifically will affect the UK’s economic growth over the next five years. However, economic growth will be considered along with other factors in shaping our policy on deforestation. We are currently reviewing how to address deforestation in UK supply chains and will outline our approach in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 42062 on Bees: Conservation, whether he has received a request from the Northern Irish Minister of Agriculture for mutual assistance with bee inspecting. \p Mary Creagh: It is confirmed that no request from the Northern Irish Minister of Agriculture for mutual assistance with bee inspecting has been received by APHA’s National Bee Unit.
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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) help reduce pollution levels in England's chalk streams and (b) to monitor the effectiveness of these steps. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is committed to the protection and restoration of our cherished chalk streams. We have taken immediate action to clean up our waterways, including a new Water (Special Measures) Act which will bring criminal charges against those who persistently break the law. In October last year we launched an independent commission into the water sector regulatory system to deliver transformative change to the water system.

We are investing in initiatives to improve chalk streams including 45 projects in 24/25 through the Water Environment Improvement Fund. As part of the Water Resources Chalk Partnership Fund, in 24/25 the Government will contribute £1 million for chalk stream projects with partners on 30 projects, aimed at safeguarding these rare and irreplaceable habitats.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department’s publication entitled Defra: spending over £500, January 2025, published on 21 March 2025, what the Environment Agency purchased from VAT: GB 695449381 on 14 January 2025. \p Emma Hardy: On 14 January 2025, the Environment Agency purchased training for qualifying staff who hold a professional qualification provided by the Institute of Asset Management. The training was provided by Asset Management Consulting Limited, described on the publication as VAT: GB 695449381. The description comes from the supplier.

The Cabinet Office has recently announced measures to ensure public expenditure offers maximum value to the taxpayer. This is to correct the lack of respect for public money by the previous government, which allowed this type of spend to be entirely unchecked and unmonitored, including for the time that he was a minister in that department.

The policy detail can be found here:

Government-branded merchandise and away days banned - GOV.UK
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Tonia Antoniazzi:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the classification by the Office for Budget Responsibility of the extended producer responsibility scheme as a tax on production. \p Mary Creagh: Whilst pEPR was announced a few years ago, Defra has now built a modelling framework to calculate local authority costs and producer fees that was used for the first time by the OBR to include pEPR in their forecast. Pending a decision by the ONS, the OBR have recorded pEPR disposal fees as a tax in their forecast on the advice of Treasury classification experts, whose indicative views is that the ONS will likely classify the income stream as a tax when they formally classify the scheme.

This technical classification does not affect the distribution of revenue to local authorities. Revenue from pEPR will be distributed directly by PackUK, the scheme administrator, to local authorities. It will not be diverted to the Treasury or central government finances.
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Gregory Stafford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has contingency plans for a national bin strike. \p Mary Creagh: Local authorities are independent employers, responsible for managing industrial relations and the impacts of any potential industrial action.
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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference oral contribution of 23 April 2025 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, column 1141, how much funding has been approved for projects under the Water Restoration Fund in the latest funding round. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Restoration Fund, which launched in April last year, is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment. The Water Restoration Fund funding is based on water company fines and penalties from April 2022 until October 2023.

Up to £11 million of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects.

Following a rigorous assessment process, I am pleased to say that current applicants to the Water Restoration Fund have been contacted regarding the outcome of their application. Further details regarding which projects have been successful and specific funding allocations per project will be shared in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference oral contribution of 23 April 2025 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, column 1141, if his Department will maintain the Water Restoration Fund for this Parliament and beyond. \p Emma Hardy: The water restoration fund is currently active.

Defra is evaluating how water company fines and penalties can be reinvested in improvements to the water environment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

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Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the press notice by Ofwat entitled Ofwat approves £104bn upgrade to accelerate delivery of cleaner rivers and seas and secure long-term drinking water supplies for customers, published 19 December 2024, what discussions his Department has had with Ofwat on its planned timetable for releasing additional funding for the water system. \p Emma Hardy: The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ofwat on a range of issues, including ensuring companies properly carry out and finance their statutory functions.

The price controls set as part of Price Review 2024 came into effect on 1st April 2025. In their Final Determinations, Ofwat set expenditure allowances which fund companies to meet their statutory and regulatory requirements and deliver their performance commitments over the 2025-30 period.

The £104 billion funding package is the highest level of investment in the water sector since privatisation and is set to be the second largest private sector investment programme for this Parliament, which will contribute to the delivery of key elements of the Government’s Plan for Change and Mission Objectives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_382

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the projects funded by the Water Restoration Fund since 5 July 2024. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Restoration Fund, which launched in April last year, is reinvesting funding based on water company environmental fines and penalties into projects to improve the water environment. The Water Restoration Fund funding is based on water company fines and penalties from April 2022 until October 2023.

Up to £11 million of funding was made available on a competitive basis to support a range of water restoration projects.

Following a rigorous assessment process, I am pleased to say that current applicants to the Water Restoration Fund have been contacted regarding the outcome of their application. Further details regarding which projects have been successful and project publication procedures will be shared in due course.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_383
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_383

Alicia Kearns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consider reforming the monitoring system for PM10 emissions from quarries; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on public health. \p Emma Hardy: Particulate matter emissions from quarries are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016, including through emission limits and monitoring requirements on total particulate matter. We will keep standards for PM10 emissions from quarries under review to ensure emissions controls and monitoring requirements are up-to-date.

Monitoring stations measure PM10 levels in various locations across the UK. Information and data are available through the webpage UKAIR. All locations are currently assessed as being below the PM10 limit value set out in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010, based on monitoring and modelling.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_384
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_384

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of extended producer responsibility fees on the hospitality sector; and whether hospitality businesses are required to pay fees when a closed-loop waste and recycling system is in place. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024 the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) scheme on packaging recycling rates. The impact assessment did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors, such as hospitality.

We are considering further improvements to the scheme, including how to treat businesses which run closed loop recycling systems that support the environmental outcomes of the scheme. My officials are reviewing options to bring forward an offset where obligated producers are operating closed loop recycling systems for food-grade plastic at the earliest opportunity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_385

Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support brewers meet the costs of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme. \p Mary Creagh: The government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). This is a major reform that will be iterated over several years to incentivise packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and use more sustainable packaging.

Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the brewing and hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_386
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_386

Bob Blackman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to introduce an immediate moratorium on import permits for hunting trophies of cheetahs. \p Mary Creagh: The government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of endangered animals in its manifesto and will deliver on this. Defra is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_387

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on (a) local authority recycling rates and (b) hospitality waste streams. \p Mary Creagh: In October 2024 the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging recycling rates. This impact assessment did not split recycling rates on a local authority basis. The impact assessment also did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors, such as hospitality.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_388
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_388

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with industry stakeholders on the exemption of on-trade packaging from Extended Producer Responsibility fees. \p Mary Creagh: Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging.

Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_389
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_389

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the current Extended Producer Responsibility framework. \p Mary Creagh: The previous Government consulted on the principles, objectives, and proposals for extended producer responsibility in 2019 and 2021, and these received high levels of support. We continue to work closely with the devolved governments, environmental regulators, and industry to review the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging with a view to introducing amendments to the scheme.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_390
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_390

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reviewing the fees imposed on the pub sector under the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme. \p Mary Creagh: We published three sets of illustrative base fees to help industry prepare for pEPR. The third set, published in December, was based on improved data and using point estimates as opposed to ranges, providing further certainty to businesses. These fees represent the best possible point estimate of base fees given currently available information.

Producers were required to submit their final 2024 data by 1 April 2025. Following this deadline, we are conducting regulatory checks. Once checks are conducted to an appropriate level, we will use 2024 data and insight from regulator checks to publish pEPR base fees in June 2025. Regulatory activity will continue throughout 2025 and may result in changes to base fees during the assessment year.

The government has worked closely with industry, including the pub sector, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging. In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_391
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_391

Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the carbon flux sequestration of peat lands in the Falkland Islands. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra is currently funding an R&D project to gather data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in peatlands in the Falkland Islands.

This will deliver scientifically robust data to improve our understanding of Falkland peatland GHG emissions and reporting into the GHG Inventory. It will also establish accurate carbon sequestration rates for the peatlands, enabling a feasibility study for a carbon offsetting scheme with the long-term aim of financing peatland restoration.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_392
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_392

James McMurdock:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to publish guidance for sporting bodies on the eligibility criteria for women's sport. \p Stephanie Peacock: We have always been clear that, when it comes to women's sport, biology matters. We will continue to support sports to develop policies that protect fairness and safety, particularly when it is not possible to balance those factors with inclusion.

In terms of gender eligibility, National Governing Bodies set their own policies for who can participate in their sports in domestic competitions. It is for International Federations to determine the rules for their sports at the international level of competition.

Our Sports Councils produce guidance to provide domestic sports bodies with the framework and support to determine the right position for their sport. Our Sports Councils are consulting with legal experts to clarify how the Supreme Court ruling affects the guidance. The outcome of this will feed into their timescale for a planned wider review of the guidance.

Alongside this, sports need to come up with approaches to ensure everyone has the opportunity to take part somehow - and I know that sporting bodies will be considering this in light of the Supreme Court decision.
wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_393
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-04-30)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-04-30 conversation_393

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the economic benefits of the (a) motorbike road racing season and (b) Ulster Superbike Championship in Northern Ireland. \p Stephanie Peacock: The Government is committed to supporting economic growth in the sport sector, and ensuring this translates into tangible outcomes that span grassroots participation through to elite performance.

DCMS has not made an assessment of the economic benefits of the motorbike road racing season or the Ulster Superbike Championship in Northern Ireland specifically. However, the motorsport road racing season has an impact on the economy directly with live races, including at Brands Hatch, Silverstone, the North West 200 and others, as well as the indirect impact it makes via R&D advancements. These events are a highlight for many local communities, doing so much to make the UK the home of motorbike racing.

In September 2024, DCMS published the Sport Satellite Account. The results estimated that the sport sector as a whole contributed £53.6 billion directly to the UK economy in 2021 (equivalent to 2.6% of the total UK Gross Value Add in 2021).

The Sport Satellite Account estimated that the sport sector contributed £1.2 billion directly to the Northern Irish economy in 2021 (equivalent to 2.6% of the total Northern Irish Gross Value Add in 2021).