theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Rupert Lowe:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of abattoirs in enforcing welfare standards during the production of halal meat. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs. A significant proportion of halal meat comes from animals that are stunned before slaughter.

Legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals when slaughtered and there are additional rules that apply when animals are slaughtered by either the Jewish or Muslim method to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering, or distress during the slaughter process. Official Veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are present in all approved slaughterhouses in England and Wales to monitor and enforce animal welfare requirements. The FSA has a zero-tolerance policy to animal welfare breaches and will take appropriate action where these occur.

In addition to the Official Veterinarian presence, the FSA conduct regular audits to ensure that the animal welfare controls in slaughterhouses are effective. The frequency of these audits are risk based and the results are communicated to Defra. The Department engages regularly with FSA officials on a range of animal welfare topics.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Josh Babarinde:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to produce an animal protection strategy detailing steps to (a) increase animal welfare standards and (b) end the use of cages for farm animals. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail in due course.

The use of cages and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which we are currently considering very carefully.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the Flood Resilience Taskforce Model to consider wider resilience challenges. \p Emma Hardy: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five priorities. That’s why we set up a Floods Resilience Taskforce which is a new approach to preparing for flooding. It brings together representatives from national, regional and local Government, the Devolved Governments, emergency services, businesses and environmental interest groups. The Floods Resilience Taskforce is working on a range of actions including warning and informing and vulnerable groups.

The Government has robust governance in place for improving the UK's national resilience. The Prime Minister established a dedicated Cabinet Committee on resilience, chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Cabinet Office is responsible for the coordination of resilience, civil contingencies planning, and crisis management working with Lead Government Departments like Defra and the Devolved Governments.

Defra is responsible for a range of resilience challenges including flooding, water supply, animal and plant health, and food supply. There is frequent sharing of experience across Defra including on the model of the Floods Resilience Taskforce.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how often maintenance of flood defences is conducted in (a) Bothenhampton, (b) Bridport, (c) Maiden Newton, (d) Ryme Intrinseca, (e) Yetminster and (f) Chilfrome. \p Emma Hardy: As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

The Environment Agency (EA) maintains a variety of flood defence assets which require differing levels of maintenance. These defences are maintained to ensure the standard of protection specified by the flood alleviation scheme. They are regularly inspected for signs of defects, with appropriate remedial action undertaken when necessary.

The EA maintains a flood alleviation scheme throughout Bridport and Maiden Newton to protect properties at risk of flooding. Yetminster has its own flood alleviation scheme, comprising of an embankment and walls with a series of flapped outfalls to manage surface water drainage.

Since 2016, the EA has invested in Property Flood Resilience measures that better prevent flooding to 12 properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support the recruitment of additional ecologists in local government. \p Mary Creagh: Since November 2021, the Government has committed over £35 million to Local planning authorities (LPAs) to help them prepare for and implement biodiversity net gain. Defra has confirmed funding up to the end of 2024/25 and will confirm for 2025/26 shortly. Information on funding beyond 2025/26 will be provided following the spending review. Individual LPAs are best placed to decide how to use the funds in the most effective way, but recruitment of ecologists is one of the areas they could choose to allocate money to.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding is available for farmers to implement (a) buffer zones and (b) other measures aimed at preventing agricultural pollutants from entering rivers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Levels of water pollution are unacceptable, and water pollution is a crime. We are working with farmers through a suite of measures to reduce agricultural pollution.

Defra’s Environmental Land Management schemes pay farmers for the delivery of environmental benefits, including improved water quality. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pays farmers for actions that will improve the water environment by reducing runoff and erosion, maintaining soil cover and creating buffer strips and margins. There are 35,000 active SFI agreements in England. Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) pays farmers, land managers and foresters for more locally-targeted actions relating to specific locations, features and habitats. In December we published details of the improved CSHT offer, which includes several new actions to improve water quality. We will be opening up CSHT for new applications in the summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce sewage discharges into the river Severn. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector.

The Environment Agency (EA) has strengthened its regulation of the water industry by expanding its specialised workforce, increasing compliance checks, and using new data and intelligence tools. The strengthening of the regulatory system has seen a significant increase in the inspections at Severn Trent sewage assets, from 707 in 2024/25 to 1,742 in 2025/26.

All storm overflows are now monitored to ensure that sites are compliant with their permits. For high spilling sites, Severn Trent Water must produce a spill reduction plan as required by the Environment Act 2021. Where the EA identifies non-compliance, it will not hesitate in taking enforcement action.

For Price Review 24, which runs from 2025-2030, Severn Trent Water will be investing £1.7 billion to reduce the use of storm overflows. This investment will reduce storm overflow spills by 26% over the five-year period, a reduction down to an average of 14 spills per overflow.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to the Sustainable Farming Incentive for the 2025-26 financial year; and for what reason new applications have been paused since 11 March 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend over the next two years (24/25 and 25/26). These are not ring-fenced figures and have the potential to change.

This showed that as of 11 March, £1.05 billion had been paid to farmers or committed for payment through existing agreements or submitted applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

The high uptake of the SFI scheme means it is fully subscribed. The decision to close the scheme to new applications was taken at that point.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter of 12th February 2025 from the Hon. Member for Henley and Thame on a meeting to discuss the ongoing closure of the Thames Path National Trail at the Marsh Lock Horsebridge in Henley-on-Thames. \p Mary Creagh: The Department has not received the hon. Member’s aforementioned letter of 12 February 2025; however, it did respond on 3 March 2025 to the hon. Member’s letter of 6 February 2025 regarding the Thames Path National Trail at the Marsh Lock Horsebridge. The Department was also transferred the hon Member’s letter of 17 February to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care regarding the same topic, which was closed in light of the 3 March response. A further letter from the hon Member dated 10 March has been received and will receive a response as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reopen the Sustainable Farming Incentive to new applications. \p Daniel Zeichner: We have closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for new applications because the current SFI budget has been successfully allocated, with large-scale uptake of the scheme and 37,000 live SFI agreements delivering towards our environmental targets.

Now is the right time for a reset: supporting farmers, delivering for nature and targeting public funds fairly and effectively towards our priorities for food, farming and nature.

We will be reforming the SFI offer to direct funding towards SFI actions which are most appropriate for the least productive land and have the strongest case for enduring public investment. This will allow us to align SFI with our work on the Land Use Framework and the 25-year farming roadmap to protect the most productive land and boost food security, whilst delivering for nature.

We expect to publish more information about the reformed SFI offer in summer 2025. This will include an indication of when we expect to re-open SFI for applications.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how he plans to consult farmers on the review of the Sustainable Farming Incentive in a transparent way. \p Daniel Zeichner: Since we launched the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in 2022 we have worked closely with the farming sector to develop and improve the offer to make sure it worked for as many different farmers and land types as possible. We will continue to do this in order to develop the reformed SFI offer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of beaver reintroductions on flood resilience in areas where they have been trialled. \p Mary Creagh: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Yes, the Government has assessed the impact of reintroducing beavers on flood resilience. This includes an evidence review of the impacts of beavers on the natural and human environment in England, which shows beavers can reduce the risk of flooding.

Beavers can bring a range of benefits including contributing to flood risk mitigation, by using their dams and creating complex wetland habitats to slow the flow of water and to store water (a form of natural flood management). Appropriately managing the reintroduction of beavers in England helps to mitigate the impact they can have.

Building on the approach that we have already developed for wild release and management; we will collaboratively develop a management plan for the long-term reintroduction and recovery of beaver populations in England.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) monitor agricultural spend against the budget and (b) reduce the time taken to make financial decisions. \p Daniel Zeichner: We monitor forecasts of scheme uptake and spend against the current year budget on an ongoing basis and respond accordingly to maximise the amount that can be delivered.

Furthermore, we have a full understanding of commitments into future years arising from multi-annual agreements. We monitor the uptake of our demand led schemes which have a budgetary impact on future years (such as SFI) on a regular basis, increasing the frequency of this as the level of commitment approaches the budget available in future years.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department did not provide six weeks' notice when closing the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme for new applications. \p Daniel Zeichner: The high uptake of the scheme means it is fully subscribed. The decision to close the scheme to new applications was taken at that point.

We could not give any advance notice because we needed to ensure fair access to the scheme and avoid creating a sudden increase in the level of demand.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has distributed from its Environmental Land Management budget this financial year to date; and how much remains. \p Daniel Zeichner: In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report setting out commitments in the previous financial year. Defra intends to publish the annual report for the financial year 2024/25 later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Warinder Juss:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 33266 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to respond to that correspondence. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Department apologises once more to the hon. Member for the delay in responding. We will endeavour to provide a response to the hon. Member shortly.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Greg Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of extended producer responsibility fees on brewers using glass bottles. \p Mary Creagh: Following the passage of the legislation introducing extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR) through parliament, the government has been working closely with industry, including the glass sector, to understand the impact of the upcoming fees on business as the scheme is implemented. To date we have had little evidence presented that pEPR fees cannot be afforded.

We are encouraging the glass industry to seek to reduce the cost impacts of pEPR through a transition to reuse and refill, something that used to be commonplace in the UK and continues to be in many other countries. The use of reusable/refillable packaging is encouraged under pEPR, as producers are only required to report and pay disposal cost fees for household packaging the first time it is placed on the market, and can then offset these fees when they recycle this packaging at then end of its life, thereby avoiding the vast majority of pEPR fees.

A full assessment of the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility was completed in 2024 and is published on legislation.gov.uk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to implement the chalk stream recovery pack. \p Emma Hardy: Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works.

Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution, and physical modifications of habitats.

Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. In 2024/2025, there are over 45 chalk stream projects receiving funding from the Government's Water Environment Improvement Fund, each leveraging private investment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether they have made an estimate of the potential impact of abolishing diversity, equity and inclusion roles in their Department on annual staffing costs. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra group is committed to enabling an inclusive and respectful culture with thriving workplaces where all colleagues are valued and treated fairly. This maximises our potential to innovate, collaborate and deliver first-class outcomes for our citizens. We work hard to ensure EDI is mainstreamed in the way we develop and deliver our work and in making sure Defra group has a diverse workforce that is fully enabled to deliver.

The delivery of EDI activity and staffing requirements is decided by Departments as the employer. To support mainstreaming EDI, we continue to have a small number of dedicated EDI roles and have no plans to abolish those and therefore there is no estimate to provide on abolition of these roles.

The department's EDI roles continue the Civil Service Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Expenditure guidance, published in May 2024, including that all EDI roles are appropriately situated within HR functions.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to (a) add all resident pinniped species to Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and (b) protect all pinniped and cetacean species from each offence under Section 9 of that Act. \p Mary Creagh: We continue to consider the evidence for legislative change. This includes the proposals submitted by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to the previous Government for amending the lists of species afforded protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Nature recovery is one of my main priorities, so Defra is working to review whether we have the right tools in place including developing a revised Environmental Improvement Plan to protect and restore our natural environment, which will be published later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on steps to help tackle fly-tipping. \p Mary Creagh: I have not had any recent discussions with local authorities on steps to help tackle fly-tipping but my officials work with local authorities through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to promote and disseminate good practice with regards to preventing fly-tipping. Various practical tools for local authorities are available from their webpage which is available at: https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/national-fly-tipping-prevention-group#.

Local authorities have enforcement powers to help them tackle fly-tipping, including fixed penalty notices of up to £1000, vehicle seizure and prosecution action which can lead to a significant fine or even imprisonment. We are seeking powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to provide statutory enforcement guidance to help councils make full and proper use of these.

We have also committed to forcing fly-tippers and vandals to clean up the mess they have created as part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour and will provide further details on this commitment in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy includes representation from businesses involved in the production of (a) legumes, (b) nuts and seeds, (c) fresh, frozen and dried fruits and vegetables and (d) plant-based alternatives. \p Daniel Zeichner: The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025.

The Food Strategy Advisory Board is the first step in a wider engagement strategy which will continue to ensure and demonstrate the joined-up and system-wide approach for the food system. There is huge expertise, energy and commitment to work towards better food system outcomes, and all stakeholders need to be part of the solution.

There will be multiple routes to share ideas as part of the co-design process in 2025. This collaboration aims to shape the strategy's scope and work together to deliver a comprehensive strategy.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the composition of the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy aligns with the Government’s (a) obesity strategy and (b) public health objectives. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Food Strategy Advisory Board is a small group of senior leaders representing a wealth of experience from across the food system. Its role is purely advisory, to help steer the food strategy in delivering our ambition for a healthier, fairer and more resilient future food system. The board will provide advice to shape the outcomes the food strategy should deliver, and the conditions for the food strategy to succeed in, boosting food security, improving health, ensuring economic growth, and delivering environmental sustainability.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund in each of the four application rounds since 2015. \p Daniel Zeichner: Since 2015, there has been £20.55 million allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund. The Rural Payment Agency does not readily hold data for each of the four application rounds since 2015 and establishing this would incur disproportionate costs.
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Paula Barker:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a list of members of the Industry Expert Panel for the National Food Strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory Board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025.
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Dr Simon Opher:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of microplastics on food production. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to monitor and assess emerging data regarding microplastics in food. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products, and the Environment (COT), an independent scientific committee that provides advice to the FSA and other Government departments, is currently considering the issue of microplastics. The COT has previously concluded that the available data was insufficient for a complete assessment. The FSA has advised that, based on current information, they consider it is unlikely that the presence of these particles in food or drink would cause harm to consumers. However, this will be kept under review as new evidence becomes available.
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Sir Christopher Chope:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason Natural England's annual report and accounts for 2023/24 have not yet been presented to Parliament; and what his planned timetable is for its publication. \p Mary Creagh: Natural England are working with external auditors to ensure that their Annual Report and Accounts are true and fair. The process has taken longer this year due to ensuring that new accounting judgements are robust. We are in the final stages of the audit and intend to publish within the next month.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants there were to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund for each of the four application rounds since 2015. \p Daniel Zeichner: Since 2015 there were 351 applications for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund and 276 were offered an agreement. The Rural Payment Agency does not readily hold data for each of the four application rounds since 2015 and establishing this would incur disproportionate costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Chris Law:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on the regulation of tied-accommodation for seasonal agricultural workers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra, Home Office, and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers and their Officials regularly engage regarding a range of issues, including accommodation standards for seasonal workers.

The Government will work collaboratively on this issue, across the relevant departments, to improve the rights and protections for seasonal workers. We are exploring approaches at the national and local authority level and through engagement with the sector itself.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Adrian Ramsay:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which organisations will be consulted as part of the development of the Government's Food Strategy; and whether the expert panel will include representatives from the (a) sustainable food and (b) farming sectors. \p Daniel Zeichner: As part of the development of the food strategy there will be multiple routes for stakeholders to share ideas and input into the strategy. The Food Strategy Advisory Board represents the first step in a wider stakeholder engagement plan which will continue to ensure and demonstrate the joined-up and systems-wide approach for the food strategy. The membership of the Food Strategy Advisory board was published on gov.uk on 21 March 2025 (Leading food experts join Government food strategy to restore pride in British food - GOV.UK).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Alberto Costa:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to issue supplementary cull licences in 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has started work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy, to continue to drive down disease rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and to end the badger cull by the end of this Parliament.

Licensing and authorisation decisions are made by Natural England as the delegated licensing authority for badger control in England. In accordance with the published policy guidance, which is available at the link below, no new intensive or supplementary badger control licences can be issued in 2025.

Existing cull processes will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out through the new strategy. However, all remaining licences in the High Risk and Edge Area of England will end by January 2026.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/989623/tb-licensing-guidance-ne.pdf.
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John Milne:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what evidential basis he determined the level of funding through the Rural England Prosperity Fund in the 2025-26 financial year. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra announced on 4 March that it would be providing an additional £33 million for the Rural England Prosperity Fund in financial year 2025-26. This announcement continues funding beyond the lifetime of the original scheme providing new money for new projects in rural areas.

The Autumn Statement on 30 October confirmed Defra’s budgets for 2024-25 and 2025-26. Funding allocations for individual programmes have been determined through the department’s business planning exercise. Future funding decisions remain subject to the Government spending review.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Robin Swann:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34165 on Food and Livestock: Transport, how many vehicles containing (a) live animals and (b) food products attended Sevington for further inspection in each of the last 12 months. \p Daniel Zeichner: Due to the intelligence led and dynamic nature of our biosecurity controls, and to ensure operations are not impacted, we are unable to share data on inspection volumes.
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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 February 2025 to Question 30413 on Farmers: Income, if he will make an estimate of median income for farmers in the 2023-24 financial year. \p Daniel Zeichner: Published data for England 2023/24 are based on mean average incomes, rather than medians and are available at: Farm business income - GOV.UK. These show that, in 2023/24, average (mean) Farm Business Income (in simple terms, the output generated by the farm business minus total farm costs) across all farm types was £45,300.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_143

Victoria Atkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has confirmed funding for the Dover Port Health Authority for the 2025-26 financial year. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra remains committed to agreeing a funding model with Dover Port Health Authority to help tackle illegal imports. The Government’s fiscal position is challenging, and we need to make some difficult decisions. Despite this, we have been able to secure funding for 2025/6 to support the detection of illegal imports at the short straits, alongside Border Force and we continue to work with Dover Port Health Authority on this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_144

Steve Witherden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has plans to publish an (a) Green Paper and (b) public consultation on access to nature; and what steps he has taken to improve people's access to nature. \p Mary Creagh: We are currently developing policy to improve access to nature, working closely with other Government departments and key stakeholders, and further information will be available in due course. In addition, we are already delivering key initiatives aimed at improving people’s access to nature, including:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_145

Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Wild release and management of beavers in England, published on 28 February 2025, whether he has plans to take steps to release beavers in Bedfordshire. \p Mary Creagh: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

On 28 February 2025, Defra announced its new approach to beavers, including opening a licensing scheme for beaver wild release.

A licence is needed to release any beavers into the wild. Applications will be considered against comprehensive wild release criteria. These criteria have been designed to ensure only high-benefit, low-risk projects are licenced, and that beavers are reintroduced at a measured pace in a well-managed way. Any project proposing wild beaver reintroductions in Bedfordshire must therefore meet the criteria.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_146

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on the proportion of household waste sent to landfill in West Dorset constituency. \p Mary Creagh: Data on household waste is collected via the publicly available Waste Data Flow Portal (https://www.wastedataflow.org/). Information is submitted on a local authority basis rather than constituency. Dorset Council, which includes West Dorset, sent 4,547 tonnes of household waste to landfill (2.7% of 170,080 tonnes collected) based on the latest data covering 2022/23.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_147

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of waste is sent to landfill (a) in West Dorset constituency and (b) nationally. \p Mary Creagh: In 2022 there was 41.3 million tonnes (21.4%) of waste sent to landfill in England. This is the latest publicly available information and is published on gov.uk (UK statistics on waste - GOV.UK). Defra does not hold data on total waste sent to landfill in West Dorset.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_148

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what emergency response plans are in place for severe flooding events in (a) Bothenhampton, (b) Bridport, (c) Maiden Newton, (d) Ryme Intrinseca, (e) Yetminster and (f) Chilfrome. \p Emma Hardy: Protecting communities around the country from flooding is one of the Secretary of State’s five core priorities. That is why we set up a Flood Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and preparedness ahead of and after the winter flood season.

Over the last few years, we have seen the wettest winters since 1871. Sadly, some communities experienced flooding multiple times and in quick succession. The Environment Agency (EA) has recently published new data showing 6.3 million properties across England are in areas at risk of flooding from one or a combination of rivers, the sea and surface water. These maps are available online and show the latest predictions of flood risk now, and with an allowance for climate change.

The EA operates a flood warning service informing communities of flood risk and when to take precautions. They work closely with partner organisations, through the Local Resilience Forum, to plan and prepare for localised incidents and wider emergencies. The EA operates a wide range of flood defence assets and has an operational response team, which manages the operation of these assets during flooding. In case flood defence assets are exceeded or fail, the EA has well-rehearsed contingency plans which can be deployed to mitigate effects.

The EA continues to build strong relationships with local communities to improve community flood resilience. Through the flood warden programme, the EA engages regularly with volunteers and Parish Councils.

Engagement takes place where the risk is highest and where we receive the highest number of reported flooded properties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_149

Edward Morello:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what role natural flood management solutions play in flood defence plans for (a) Bothenhampton, (b) Bridport, (c) Maiden Newton, (d) Ryme Intrinseca, (e) Yetminster and (f) Chilfrome. \p Emma Hardy: As part of the Government’s Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion will be invested over two years in building, maintaining and repairing flood defences, better protecting 52,000 properties by March 2026. Around 1,000 projects will receive funding in 24/25 and 25/26.

Investment in flood risk management schemes takes place where the risk is highest, wherever it is across the country. Each scheme is carefully considered to determine whether and how far it will benefit the most people and property.

An initial assessment of the flood defences in Bridport determined that maintenance of the existing defences is the most cost-effective option. Bridport remains on the pipeline programme to revisit in 10 years. Bothenhampton, Maiden Newton and Yetminster are not included in the current pipeline programme. However, these areas should see flood risk benefits at a catchment scale due to the influence of Natural Flood Management (NFM) projects in the area.

The Environment Agency (EA) is working with organisations such as the Dorset National Landscape Partnership to deliver a NFM project across the Brit catchment that will reduce flood risk to communities such as Beaminster. The River Brit project received a share of £25million in Government funding. In Maiden Newton, Dorset Wildlife Trust is gathering data on the impact of beavers to flood risk at Kingcombe Nature reserve at the headwaters of the Frome. At Yetminster, Yeovil Rivers Trust is installing NFM measures in the headwaters of the Wriggle to slow the flow and attenuate floodwater.

The EA is proposing to desilt the Maiden Newton Flood Alleviation Channel this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) products of animal origin and (b) products containing products of animal origin have entered the UK from (i) Germany, (ii) Slovakia and (iii) Hungary since imports have been restricted following outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in those countries. \p Daniel Zeichner: Since the introduction of foot and mouth controls for Germany, Hungary and Slovakia, there has been an effective prohibition on the movement of impacted goods into GB. It is important to note that most products of animal origin are not prohibited from these countries, for example poultry meat. Only products from susceptible animals that have not been treated to the required level to mitigate disease risk are prohibited, for example fresh beef.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

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Ellie Chowns:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the auto-clearance system on the UK’s ability to enforce (a) bans on the import of live (i) cattle, (ii) pigs and (iii) sheep and (b) restrictions on products of animal origin from (A) Germany, (B) Hungary and (C) Slovakia. \p Daniel Zeichner: The auto clearance system does not impact on our ability to prohibit live animals from foot and mouth affected areas, as these commodities are specifically excluded. The auto clearance system has also been updated to exclude goods subject to Foot and Mouth Regulations from impacted countries. This means that we can enforce the bands on impacted commodities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_152

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of sewage discharge on local ecosystems in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas.

That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector.

The Environment Agency (EA) undertakes regular monitoring of the water quality in the River Thames catchment including the Surrey Heath constituency, and the assessment and proposed actions are set out in The Thames River Basin Management Plan. Water quality impacts from wastewater pollution are highlighted as one of the key pressures resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status.

The EA continues to respond and investigate any significant pollution incidents. There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years and these are subject to ongoing Environment Agency investigations.

As part of Price Review 24 (PR24), Thames Water will undertake a significant investment programme to improve the environment over the 2025-30 period.These investments include: £784 million to reduce the use of storm overflows and £1.2 billion to prevent nutrient pollution. Ofwat expects the reduction of the use of storm overflows by at least 29% over the next five years, down to an average of 14 spills per overflow.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_153

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38358 on Fisheries, what steps his Department is taking to update the data it provides to the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is responsible for updating UK fishing vessel data on the Global Record of Fishing Vessels, Refrigerated Transport Vessels and Supply Vessels. The MMO last updated the record on 24 March 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-03-28)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-03-28 conversation_154

Wendy Morton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for participation at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference by (a) officials and (b) Ministers. \p Emma Hardy: The third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica in June, will be at a critical time for the ocean and a stocktake of progress towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

The UK is supportive of an action-orientated UNOC and looks forward to the event. Defra is leading on the planning for UK attendance at the Conference and is considering along with other relevant departments appropriate official-level attendance in line with UK priorities for UNOC. Formal invitations from the co-hosts have been shared and Defra is considering appropriate Ministerial attendance.