theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether her Department collects statistics based on gender rather than sex. \p Alex Norris: The Department collects and publishes a number of statistical releases - of these, a small number include questions relating to sex and/or gender identity where relevant. These follow the previous Office for National Statistics (ONS) best practice of recording both sex and gender identity except for occasional exceptions which collect gender instead of sex. These are where it is important to collect gender but due to reporting or collection constraints it is not possible to additionally collect sex. The Department continues to engage with the ONS’ wider sex and gender identity harmonisation work to ensure all of government works towards a consistent way of collecting data on sex and gender identity.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, what the projected allocation of the £5 billion farming budget is for farmers in Lancashire between 2024 and 2026. \p Daniel Zeichner: The farming budget is not ring fenced according to area but will depend on which schemes and grants farmers have agreements for and/or apply for.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to enable the completion of work that has started following the announcement of the decision to reduce funding to Natural England's programme to designate and expand national landscapes. \p Mary Creagh: Natural England have the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new National Landscape designations. For year 2025/26 the direct funding for this work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Blake Stephenson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to the programme to designate and expand national landscapes. \p Mary Creagh: Defra provided direct funding of £1.1 million per annum for years 2022/23 - 2024/25 to accelerate Natural England's work on designations. As well as the programme to consider designating and expanding National Landscapes, Natural England used this funding on wider work relating to landscape designations and alternatives.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Water UK’s response to the Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence, April 2025. \p Emma Hardy: The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will recommend reforms to reset the water sector and is expected to form the largest review of the industry since privatisation. It is considering a wide range of areas, as set out in the Commission’s Call for Evidence(opens in a new tab).

The Commission aims to build consensus for a resilient and innovative water sector and a robust wider regulatory framework that will deliver long-term benefits, restore rivers, lakes, and seas to good health, provide a reliable and efficient water supply in a changing climate, and ultimately serve both customers and the environment.

The Commission’s interim Report was published on 03 June 2025; the report's findings can be found at Independent Water Commission publishes interim findings - GOV.UK. The final report and recommendations will be published later in the summer. More than 50,000 submissions were submitted to the Call for Evidence, including Water UK, and the Commission has engaged widely with a range of stakeholders.

Once the Commission has made recommendations, both Governments will respond and consult on proposals. These recommendations are expected to form the basis of further legislation to attract long-term investment and clean up our waters for good.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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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 press release entitled Councils to seize and crush fly-tipping vehicles to clean up Britain, published on 29 April 2025 whether the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team was consulted on its publication. \p Mary Creagh: Government departments do not comment on or share internal advice. Any announcements made during the pre-election period are carefully considered and taken in line with the principles set out under the Civil Service guidance.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the use of (a) mobile abattoirs and (b) farmer-assisted slaughter on (i) costs for livestock farmers and (ii) animal stress. \p Daniel Zeichner: A mobile slaughter facility must be approved on the premises on which it is to operate. Currently there is one mobile abattoir in England and two Food Standards Agency (FSA) approved sites it can operate from. Mobile abattoirs may offer benefits in certain localised or remote settings and in reduced transport times for animals. There are operational and regulatory constraints, and throughput is low and as such their wider application across the industry is limited.

Other than mobile slaughter facilities, the only forms of slaughter allowed on farm are emergency slaughter, which is strictly defined in the legislation, and slaughter by the animal’s owner for their own private domestic consumption. In both circumstances FSA have set out requirements on their website. No recent assessment of costs to farmers has been made for mobile or on farm slaughter.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of implementing a graduated regulatory system for smaller scale abattoirs operating within smaller distribution areas on (a) movement of and (b) stress to livestock. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises the vital role smaller abattoirs play in supporting a resilient food supply chain and reducing journey times for livestock, which minimises the risk of welfare issues arising during transport. However, to date there has been no formal assessment of the potential impact of implementing a graduated regulatory system for smaller-scale abattoirs operating within smaller distribution areas.

Defra remains committed to working with industry and the Food Standards Agency to explore how the current regulatory framework can better support smaller operators while maintaining high standards of food safety and animal welfare. Ongoing efforts, such as reviewing Official Veterinarian attendance requirements and introducing exception reporting to reduce administrative burdens, reflect this commitment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Becky Gittins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to regulate online pet sales. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra endorses the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) to combat growing concerns regarding the irresponsible advertising of pets for sale, rehoming, and exchange. Defra have backed a set of Advertising Standards that PAAG developed which several of the UK’s largest classified websites have agreed to meet.

Under current regulations, anyone who is in the business of selling animals as pets or breeding and selling dogs needs a valid licence from their local authority. Licensees must meet strict statutory minimum welfare standards which are enforced by local authorities. Any licensee advertising animals for sale must list certain details in the advert, including their licence number and the local authority which issued the licence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Becky Gittins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he will publish the animal welfare strategy. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy later this year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the need for food labelling which allows people with medical needs to effectively monitor their condition. \p Daniel Zeichner: All food sold on the UK must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for specific information to be presented in a specific way. Information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food. The United Kingdom maintains high standards on the information provided on food labelling to ensure consumer confidence.

Defra works with other government departments, including both the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) to provide consumers with information to assist with medical needs and ensure that food safety standards are maintained.

This includes improving the provision of information for people with allergies and working with food businesses to increase allergen training in the sector. The FSA’s programme on food hypersensitivity is focused on policy, research and evidence to support enforcement and engaging with consumers and businesses.

It is mandatory for food and drinks packaging to include a Nutrition Declaration on the back-of-food packaging. At a minimum, this must include information on energy plus the amounts of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt. It can also provide information on other nutrients on a voluntary basis including other fats and vitamins and minerals. This label will help individuals with medical conditions, who need to manage their diets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to consider the potential impact of trends in the number of small, local abattoirs on the operations of livestock farms as part of the Farming Profitability Review. \p Daniel Zeichner: In conducting her review, Baroness Minette Batters is considering implications for all farming sectors (including livestock), regions, and the different stages of the food supply chain. Minette has written an open letter to farmers and growers to be collated by relevant sector and trade groups to consider three barriers to profitability and three corresponding solutions for returns by 11 July. She has ongoing engagement with livestock sector groups convened by the Department and relevant trade unions. We expect small abattoirs to be considered as part of this.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Shivani Raja:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the financial impact of being required to apply Extended Producer Responsibility charges retrospectively in the absence of published official rates for relevant material streams on businesses. \p Mary Creagh: The Regulations do not impose a retrospective charge and were subject to the required legal and parliamentary scrutiny before coming into force

To prepare businesses for the implementation of the packaging pEPR scheme we have now published illustrative base fees, based on local authority waste management costs forming the basis for indicative local authority payments for 2025, and on packaging tonnages reported by large producers for the first 6-months of 2024. These illustrative base fees for the first time show point estimates as opposed to ranges, providing further certainty to businesses. Producers were required to submit their final 2024 data by 1 April 2025. Following this deadline, regulators are conducting regulatory checks. Once checks are conducted to an appropriate level we will use 2024 data and insight from regulator checks to publish packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) base fees in June 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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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 impact of National Landscape status on (a) planning and (b) development of that land. \p Mary Creagh: Natural England has the statutory responsibility for identifying areas for new or extended National Landscape designations. As part of this, they undertake evidence-based assessments to consider the potential impact of any proposed changes.

As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and National Landscapes which have the highest status of protection in relation to these issues.

The scale and extent of development within all these designated areas should be limited, while development within their setting should be sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on the designated areas.

When considering applications for development within National Landscapes, permission should be refused for major development other than in exceptional circumstances, and where it can be demonstrated that the development is in the public interest.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the change in average household water bills on a family home in England in cash terms between (a) 2025 and (b) 2030; and what proportion of this change is (a) assumed inflation and (b) increases in charges other than inflation. \p Emma Hardy: For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change.

It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. Ofwat’s final determinations set out in December 2024 that bills in England and Wales will increase by an average £31 (or 36%) per year, before inflation, between 2025 and 2030. Individual bills will vary depending on the circumstances of each household: for instance, metered customers’ bills depend on their water use and non-metered customers’ bills can depend on the rateable value or assessed water use of the property.

Government expects water companies to ensure their customers know what support schemes are available and how to access them if they need help. Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs – from 4% of customers supported in 2020-25, to 9% by 2030.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities would be affected by Natural England's National Landscape area of outstanding natural beauty proposed designations for (a) the new Yorkshire Wolds, (b) the new Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, (c) extensions in the Surrey Hills and (d) extensions in the Chilterns; and how many hectares would be added. \p Mary Creagh: The Local Authorities affected by the Yorkshire Wolds National Landscape designation are North Yorkshire Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority. At present, the proposed new National Landscape covers 465km² (46500ha). The Local Authorities affected by the Surrey Hills extension proposals are Waverley Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Guildford Borough Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Hampshire County Council, Mole Valley District Council, City of London, London Borough of Croydon, Tandridge District Council, London Borough of Bromley, Surrey County Council. The total proposed extension area is currently 129 km²(12900ha). The work on the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge National Landscape and the Chiltern National Landscape extension has been stopped.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of trends in the number of abattoirs on (a) food security and (b) local food supply chains. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government recognises the importance of abattoirs to national food security, local supply chains and rural communities. We remain committed to maintaining a resilient and sustainable meat processing sector.

While the sector has faced and continues to face a wide range of challenges in recent years, our national abattoir network remains resilient and continues to deliver high-quality meat products that are fundamental to feeding the nation and maintaining a strong export market.

We continue to work closely with stakeholders across the sector in addressing both the challenges and opportunities they face.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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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 the food and drink sector on food labelling in advance of the consultation on that issue. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Department is engaging with a range of key food and drink stakeholders as part of the development of the food strategy. We will provide further information by the summer.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Anna Gelderd:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the effectiveness of the type approval process for inshore vessel monitoring systems in 2021. \p Daniel Zeichner: Four devices were granted type-approval in 2021, based on evidence provided that devices met the I-VMS device specification of requirements, with the roll-out starting in 2022. Following feedback of quality assurance concerns, the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) paused the roll-out and commissioned a third-party testing laboratory to undertake assurance testing of the four devices in 2022/23. Those devices were evaluated according to the I-VMS device specification of requirements. As a result of that testing, two devices passed and retained MMO type-approval status. The roll-out recommenced in 2023 with those two devices.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Becky Gittins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the microchipping database system in reuniting dogs with their owners. \p Daniel Zeichner: Pet microchipping policy is a devolved matter. In 2021, Defra carried out a post implementation review of the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015. This review concluded that microchipping had had a positive effect on reunification rates and was identified as a leading means of reunification.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will reconvene the Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government has reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership Taskforce and looks forward to receiving its findings and recommendations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Stuart Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of bathing water sites in (a) Shropshire and (b) the West Midlands. \p Emma Hardy: Bathing waters are a vital public amenity, and we are continually working to improve and modernise our bathing waters system. As such, the government announced planned reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013 on 12 March following a public consultation. Changes to the Regulations will prioritise public safety and water quality so more people can enjoy our rivers, lakes and seas in the first shake up since 2013.

We know that local communities want to have a clearer picture of water quality at popular bathing spots, which is why the three designated bathing sites in Shropshire have been monitored during the bathing season since their designation in 2024.

On the River Teme in Ludlow the Environment Agency is involved in a project where innovative automatic water quality sampling technology has been installed to improve the understanding of water quality and to inform the public of daily E. coli concentrations. This advanced innovation project has recently been extended to the Shrewsbury bathing water site for the 2025.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Satvir Kaur:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on the chalk stream recovery pack for the river Test and Itchen. \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. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme, over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.

Natural England is supporting the Environment Agency’s Test and Itchen Restoration Strategy. The aim of the project is to restore the Test and Itchen to a more functioning chalk stream habitat. This involves projects to improve the river habitat and reconnecting the river with its floodplain. The work undertaken to date has improved the chalk stream habitat, creating a more resilient river for the species which rely on it such as southern damselfly, invertebrates and fish species such as Atlantic salmon.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Joe Robertson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53757 on Beverage Containers: Recycling, whether UK-based beverage manufacturers can accept used recyclable containers of (a) their own products and (b) other manufacturers' products to offset their Extended Producer Responsibility levy. \p Mary Creagh: The packaging EPR Regulations allow, in some circumstances, packaging collected by producers from consumers, and subsequently recycled, to be offset against their disposal fee obligations. These are currently limited to hard to recycle packaging (e.g. plastic film take back) which is not collected in local authority household waste kerbside collection.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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James MacCleary:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects the sanitary and phytosanitary agreement referred to in the joint UK-EU statement of 19 May 2025 to come into effect. \p Daniel Zeichner: As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. Our aim is to start talks straight away and we want to remove barriers as soon as possible.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Ben Obese-Jecty:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53718 on Trade Agreements: USA, whether the sugar beet farming industry will be impacted by the UK-US trade deal on ethanol. \p Daniel Zeichner: The landmark economic deal with the United States announced on 8 May protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. For the first time ever, this deal will also open up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US market.

Other than beef and ethanol, no access has been offered to US farmers into the UK market. The Government is engaging closely with the bioethanol industry to find a way forward. The Secretary of State of Department of Business and Trade has met with the affected companies and officials from his department continue to work with the industry.

Sugar beet used in biofuel production is predominantly derived from sugar beet betaine residue, a waste by-product of processing. UK-sourced bioethanol from beet represents a very small proportion of the total ethanol supplied to the UK. Department for Transport data indicates that 1,406 million litres equivalent of ethanol were supplied to the UK in 2022/23, of which 49 million litres was produced from UK beet - a very small share (less 4% of the total).
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department provides to support pig farmers in transitioning away from farrowing crates to free-farrowing systems. \p Daniel Zeichner: The use of farrowing crates and other close confinement systems for farmed animals is an issue which the department is currently considering very carefully. At present there is no Government funding available to support pig farmers in transitioning away from farrowing crates to free-farrowing systems.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, how much and what proportion of the £5 billion of funding in the farming budget will be allocated to support for farmers in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire in the next two years. \p Daniel Zeichner: The budget for 2025/26 is £2.4 billion. Spending on farming in future financial years will be confirmed as part of the government’s spending review.

The farming budget is not ring fenced according to area but will depend on which schemes and grants farmers have agreements for and/or apply for.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Jess Brown-Fuller:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the chalk stream recovery pack. \p Emma Hardy: Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health must be part of our holistic programme of reforms for the water sector, including:

The Government’s wider agenda to reset the water sector and fix the systemic issues in the water framework, continued investment in actual projects at the catchment level, committing to end damaging abstraction of water from rivers and groundwater, driving home the responsibilities for responsible authorities around protected landscapes, many of which feature chalk streams.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the availability of grants for farmers to support (a) sustainable and (b) regenerative agricultural practices in Wiltshire. \p Daniel Zeichner: We are working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025.

We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome; and we are making £110 million available for new grant competitions to support research and innovation, technology and equipment for farmers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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John Whitby:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that tenant farmers are protected from eviction when landowners choose not to renew existing tenancies. \p Daniel Zeichner: The Government is committed to ensuring agricultural tenancies are fair and collaborative. Agricultural tenancy agreements grant tenant farmers statutory protections. In cases of a tenancy ending all parties are encouraged to employ the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice, which sets out expected standards for constructive tenancy negotiations.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support flood resilience in (a) Chippenham and (b) other towns; and whether his Department is taking steps to work with local authorities to develop climate adaptation plans for rural areas. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) is working with local partners on options to take forward the Chippenham Avon Project. In addition, the EA is working with Wiltshire Council on the Wiltshire Rural Runoff Project to improve understanding of the causes of flooding and to look for potential interventions to reduce the impacts of rural flooding.

In 2024, as part of the fourth round of reporting under the Adaptation Reporting Power, we worked with 18 English local authorities to support local reporting of climate risks and adaptation.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

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Kevin Hollinrake:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether (a) metered and (b) unmetered households can refuse the installation of a water smart meter. \p Emma Hardy: Smart metering is essential for Government water demand reduction targets. Defra has set out, through its regulators, that it expects water companies to uphold their commitment to halve leakage by 2050, through smart metering as part of the statutory water demand target to reduce demand by 20% by 2038.

Water companies have committed to increase metering to around 70% across household customers by 2040. To enable this, Ofwat has set targets on smart meter delivery through Price Control Deliverables in its Price Review 2024. These set out meter communication, connectivity and data completeness standards. Companies are incentivised to meet this target through non-delivery payments (where customers are reimbursed for failure to deliver commitments).

The Government expects all newly installed meters to be smart; this includes companies running upgrade programmes for those on older meters. These programmes must have customer support and provide value for money before being approved as part of a company’s Water Resource Management Plan.

Companies have social tariff programmes to protect consumers who cannot afford their bills.
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Martin Wrigley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to regulate dog and cat rescue services. \p Daniel Zeichner: Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must provide for the five basic welfare needs of the animals set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

This Government will introduce the most ambitious plan to improve animal welfare in a generation. The Department has initiated a series of meetings with key animal welfare stakeholders as part of the development of an overarching approach to animal welfare. We will be outlining more detail of plans in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_89

Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the level of risk of insolvency to Thames Water following the withdrawal of KKR; and whether he has made an estimate of the potential cost to the public purse of this event. \p Emma Hardy: The company remains stable, and the Government is closely monitoring the situation. As the company has set out, it will continue to work with its creditors and stakeholders as part of its equity raise to improve its financial position.

The Government is prepared for all eventualities across our regulated industries- including water - as any responsible Government would be, and stands ready to intervene through the use of a Special Administration Regime, should this be required to ensure the continued provision of vital public services.

It would be inappropriate to comment further on the financial matters of a private company.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_90

Dr Luke Evans:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason his Department has not yet responded to the 2024 fairer food labelling consultation. \p Daniel Zeichner: A public consultation on fairer food labelling was undertaken last year by the previous Government. A summary of responses to this consultation is available on GOV.UK.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_91

Lee Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackling potential water shortages relating to population growth in the future. \p Emma Hardy: The Government is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water transfers.

All water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and set out how they plan to continue to supply water to their customers through Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). These plans are statutory and will set out how each company will continue to meet this duty and manage water supply and demand including leaks, sustainably for at least the next 25 years.

As outlined by Ofwat in their final determinations for PR24, approximately £8 billion will be spent across England between 2025 and 2030 to deliver the company WRMPs and boost our water supply and manage demand. This includes progressing 9 new reservoirs and many water transfer schemes.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_92

Harriet Cross:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when (a) he, (b) Ministers and (c) officials in his Department last held discussions with (a) the Scottish Fishermen's Federation and (b) other fishing industry representatives before the UK-EU Summit 2025. \p Daniel Zeichner: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 52791. Most recently, the Secretary of State, the Fisheries Minister, or Defra officials spoke with key industry representatives, including from the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, on 19 May.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_93

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on long-term strategies for mental health support in agriculture beyond the period that funding has been allocated for current policies. \p Daniel Zeichner: The physical and mental wellbeing of farmers, farm workers and their families underpins our food system and food security. We will work to improve mental and physical health outcomes for the agricultural community to ensure Defra’s wider strategic plans for the farming sector are deliverable and sustainable.

Defra’s is working in consultation with communities, farming support organisations and experts across government with the aim of improving mental and physical health outcomes for the agricultural community.

Delivery of mental health interventions sits with the Department for Health and Social Care, who are investing in mental health to ensure it receives the same attention as physical health. This includes the hiring of 8,500 new mental health support workers, which will reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to people’s homes – including in rural communities.

The Government is also building a national network of Young Futures hubs, which will be present in every community and will deliver support for young people facing mental health challenges.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_94

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission research on the effectiveness of the Farmer Welfare Grant (a) overall and (b) in improving mental health outcomes for farmers. \p Daniel Zeichner: Defra routinely assesses the effectiveness of all grants and funds it finances.

Recipients of the Farmer Welfare Grant are required to submit interim reports in line with their funding agreements, as well as final reports upon completion of the grant.

Defra undertakes a range of in-house evaluation and is researching the overall effectiveness of this grant by reviewing recipient’s interim reports. We use a range of mechanisms, including feedback from farming welfare charities, to monitor the mental health outcomes of farming communities.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_95

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has considered introducing custodial sentences for people found guilty of illegal hunting under the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004. \p Daniel Zeichner: This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans in a generation to improve animal welfare and that is exactly what we will do.

The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs, except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act, and completely bans hare coursing. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law.

The Government has committed to a ban on trail hunting. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and further announcements will be made in due course.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_96

Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria were used to select the four charities providing health and wellbeing support under the Farmer Welfare Grant; and whether he plans to increase (a) the number of charities and (b) the geographic coverage. \p Daniel Zeichner: Applicants for the Farmer Welfare Grant in 2024 were required to submit their proposals following a set pro-forma. Each applicant had to demonstrate the project’s suitability and feasibility, outline the key beneficiaries and outputs, explain their approach to monitoring and evaluation, outline their costs, and explain the projects’ value for money.

Grant recipients operate in Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire Rural Support Network), and across Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, and Yorkshire (The Farmer Network, Field Nurse, UTASS, and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society).

We will be evaluating the existing Welfare Grant.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_97

Ben Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of public waterways polluted by sewage on (a) young children and (b) families. \p Emma Hardy: The level of sewage in our waterways is unacceptable, that is why this Government has taken practical steps to mitigate this. The Water (Special Measures) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 24 February. The Act will require water companies to publish real-time data related to spills from all emergency overflows. This builds on the pre-existing duty for water companies to publish data related to spills from all storm overflows within an hour of the spill beginning. Enhanced monitoring will create an unprecedented level of transparency, enabling the public and regulators to see where and how often storm overflows are spilling, hold water companies to account, and more accurately quantify the impacts of storm overflows. The Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan represents an important forward programme to guide future investment in the sector. This Plan sets clear and specific targets for water companies, regulators and the government, to work towards the long-term ambition of eliminating the harm from storm overflows. Water companies are investing a record £11 billion over the next five years to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_98

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will visit a farm in Worcestershire to meet with (a) local farmers and (b) hon. Members to discuss changes to agricultural property relief. \p Daniel Zeichner: Ministers regularly engage and visit farmers across England and have met with farming organisations and representatives nearly every week since coming into Government.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-06-12)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-06-12 conversation_99

Sarah Bool:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the mental health challenges facing farmers in England; and what steps his Department is taking to improve access to mental health support services in (a) rural and (b) agricultural communities. \p Daniel Zeichner: We use existing channels to listen to, and monitor, impacts of our policy changes on farmers. This includes regular meetings with farming welfare charities, listening to feedback from farming organisations, speaking to farmers directly at events, and through our Farmer Opinion Tracker.

Defra are working in consultation with communities, farming support organisations and experts across government with the aim of improving mental and physical health outcomes for the agricultural community.

Delivery of mental health interventions sits with the Department for Health and Social Care, who are investing in mental health to ensure it receives the same attention as physical health. This includes the hiring of 8,500 new mental health support workers, which will reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to people’s homes – including in rural communities.

The Government is also building a national network of Young Futures hubs, which will be present in every community and will deliver support for young people facing mental health challenges.