theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when final commercial decisions from manufacturers on veterinary medicine product availability in Northern Ireland will be communicated to veterinary practices and Suitably Qualified Persons. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Most pharmaceutical companies have already taken or are taking steps to make the required adjustments so we are confident that the disruption to veterinary medicines supply will be limited. Several larger companies have also communicated these decisions publicly.

For those that have not, we continue to strongly encourage them to inform businesses as soon as possible about their intentions.

However, following extensive stakeholder engagement, our assessment shows that most products currently on the Northern Ireland market will still be available. We have identified fewer than 20 products where discontinuation would pose significant risks to animal health and welfare if these risks were not addressed; the two schemes that we are introducing will serve to address those risks.

Although these figures may change as pharmaceutical companies take steps to adjust before the end of the year, we are not expecting to see a significant change and continue to monitor the situation closely.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Andrew Snowden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to provide an answer to Question 87476 on Pets: Shops. \p Dame Angela Eagle: A response was published to Question 87476 on Tuesday 18 November here: PQ 87476.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Jim Allister:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure clear and timely public communication to farmers and pet owners in Northern Ireland on changes to the availability and prescribing of veterinary medicines after 31 December 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government has been taking steps to support businesses and end-users in preparation ahead of 1 January. This includes communications to the farming sector and pet owners. The department published guidance, including a manual with specific information for pet owners and farmers.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Jim Dickson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with food retailers on ending the use of cages for hens. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Department remains firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to continue working closely with all stakeholders to deliver high standards. The major retailers have pledged to stop selling shell eggs from caged hens by the end of 2025, with some retailers extending that pledge to products containing liquid or processed egg.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the titles of all the events organised by Civil Service networks in his Department since 2017. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Sarah Gibson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support access to (a) affordable minimally processed foods and (b) UK-grown fruit, vegetables and legumes in (i) Wiltshire and (ii) other rural areas. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Good Food Cycle sets out the government’s vision to drive better outcomes from the UK food system around 10 priority outcomes, on healthy and more affordable food, good growth, sustainable and resilient supply, and vibrant food cultures.

The food strategy brings together and coordinates action across government towards a healthier, more equitable and resilient food system, including collaboration with:

The UK produces some of the world’s highest quality products - a source of national pride and central to access to healthy, affordable food in all areas. The food strategy’s approach to food security includes robust, diverse supply chains and domestic production as well as imports.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fishing licenses has the Government issued to fly-seine fishing vessels registered in i) the EU and ii) England. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Marine Management Organisation does not issue specific licences for fly-seining. The MMO issues a domestic fishing vessel licence which allows English registered vessels to fishing using various stipulated gear types. A list of registered and licensed vessels can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-vessel-lists.

EU vessels are eligible to fish in UK waters under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement if they hold a UK Foreign Vessel licence. The EU notify the vessel details and proposed gear type. Currently, there are 56 EU vessels licensed to use fly-seines in UK waters. A list of EU vessels approved to fish in UK waters can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-single-issuing-authority-uksia#approved-eu-vessels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much fishing effort, calculated in kilowatt days, has been conducted by fly-seine fishing vessels in the English Channel in each year 2015-2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Although UK and non-UK commercial fishing vessels are required to report catches in UK waters, they are not required to report whether those catches occurred in English waters or waters between six and twelve nautical miles. As such, this data is not collected. Catch statistics are regularly published by the MMO on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quota-use-statistics
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what was the first hand sale value of fish caught in English waters by EU registered fishing vessels in each year 2015-2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Although a breakdown of non-quota catches by species caught by EU vessels in UK waters is not published, cumulative catches are published as per Article 507 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These are published on gov.uk as part of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/specialised-committee-on-fisheriesData. Data on the firsthand sale value of fish caught in English waters by EU-registered vessels is not published.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many non-compliance warning letters were issued in each year 2020-2025 to i) EU registered fishing vessels, ii) English registered fishing vessels over ten meters in length, and iii) English registered fishing vessels under ten meters in length. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Marine Management Organisation’s approach to control and enforcement is risk-based and intelligence-led and are enforced in accordance with their published Compliance and Enforcement Strategy: Compliance and Enforcement Strategy - GOV.UK.

The MMO does not publish a breakdown of non-compliance warning letters issued to English or EU-registered vessels. The MMO annual report, published on gov.uk, provides an overview of the number of regulatory enforcement actions that have been taken: Marine Management Organisation Annual Report and Account
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many at-landing inspections took place in English ports for (a) EU registered fishing vessels, (b) English registered fishing vessels over ten meters in length and (c) English registered fishing vessels under ten meters in length in each year between 2020 and 2025. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Marine Management Organisation does not publish a breakdown of inspections, including in-port inspections of English and EU-registered fishing vessels and at-sea inspections outside of six nautical miles. The MMO annual report, published on gov.uk, does provide an overview of inspections carried out: Marine Management Organisation Annual Report and Accounts.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to publish guidance setting out how non-financial factors, such as environmental performance or repeated regulatory breaches, will be considered when determining whether to trigger special administration of a water company. \p Emma Hardy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 November 2025 to the hon. Member for Witney, UIN 90063.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that public, environmental and customer interests are considered in future uses of the Special Administration Regime for struggling utilities. \p Emma Hardy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 November 2025 to the hon. Member for Witney, UIN 90065.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to publish a review comparing UK bathing-water (a) monitoring and (b) classification systems with international best practice. \p Emma Hardy: Existing practices for monitoring and classification in the UK mirror the European Commission’s Bathing Water Directive which is based on the World Health Organisation’s recommendations for management of recreational waters.

Environment Agency (EA) monitoring also currently exceeds the minimum requirements of the Bathing Water Directive at all Bathing Waters.

The Government is committed to improving the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses it. We are continually working to improve and modernise our bathing waters system and learn from best practice.

We laid an SI on 28 October, due to come into force on 21 November 2025 which introduces three core reforms and several technical amendments to the Bathing Water Regulations. These will bring legislation in line with modern sampling practices, allowing the EA to improve ways of working and improve delivery for the public.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Ofwat on the adequacy of Thames Water’s compliance with its environmental and financial obligations under its operating licence; and whether Thames Water's performance meets any threshold for intervention under the Special Administration Regime (SAR). \p Emma Hardy: Special administration is the ultimate enforcement tool in Ofwat’s regulatory toolkit, and as such the bar is set high. In determining whether to apply to the court for a Special Administration Regime, the Secretary of State would have regard to all the relevant facts and matters pertaining at the time, acting in accordance with applicable statutory duties.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to increase spatial representation of sampling points around Lake Windermere including areas not currently designated as bathing-water locations. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency samples the designated bathing waters in Windermere according to the Bathing Water Regulations. Applications for new bathing water designations in Lake Windermere can be made to Defra if the criteria published on GOV.UK are met.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to allocate funding for the introduction of a (a) traffic-light system and (b) publicly accessible platform in the context of improving the communication of bathing-water results. \p Emma Hardy: Swimfo, the Environment Agency’s (EA) bathing water quality website, provides details on over 450 bathing waters, classifications, pollution sources, and seasonal water quality results. From May to September, Swimfo posts daily forecasts for over 170 sites where water quality may be temporarily affected by factors like rainfall or tides, helping the public make informed choices quickly.

The EA is exploring redevelopment opportunities to enhance communication and service delivery. This will include working with the public and key stakeholders to understand their needs and preferences for future developments of the system. The EA have also introduced several stabilisation measures to reduce service disruptions and will continue to enhance the resilience of Swimfo ahead of the next bathing season.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to move away from multi-year averages and adopt a more real-time approach to reporting bathing-water quality data. \p Emma Hardy: On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament an SI which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Core reform 3, due to come into force 21 November, introduces the discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site where appropriate, enabling flexible, locally tailored bathing seasons that reflect its use.

The Environment Agency (EA) sample throughout the season, and data is published regularly on the EA’s Swimfo bathing waters website ensuring the public can make an informed decision before entering the water. Where bathing water quality is not consistently excellent the EA makes pollution risk forecasts each day using an analysis of previous samples and notifies the public through the Swimfo website and on signage at the site in this event.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Charlie Maynard:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has assessed Thames Water’s current financial position against the statutory criteria for triggering the Special Administration Regime under the Water Industry Act 1991. \p Emma Hardy: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 November 2025 to the hon. Member for Witney, UIN 90065.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Freddie van Mierlo:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using closed mineral extraction sites to aid flood alleviation, rather than infilling with waste. \p Emma Hardy: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires that planning authorities should provide for restoration and aftercare of mineral sites at the earliest opportunity to be carried out to high environmental standards. This should include, through provision of a landscape strategy, restoration conditions and aftercare schemes as appropriate.

Responsibility for the restoration and aftercare of mineral sites, including financial responsibility, lies with the mineral site operator and, in the case of default, with the landowner.

A revised NPPF was published in December 2024. The government will consider whether further changes are necessary to manage flood risk when we consult on planning reform, including national policy related to decision making.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current Noise Regulations in protecting (a) animals, (b) veterans and (c) other vulnerable people from harm. \p Emma Hardy: Protections are in place to avoid significant noise impacts through our planning system, environmental permitting regulations, vehicle and product standards, and noise abatement legislation.
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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Department's Answer to Question 89843 on Flood Control, answered on 19 November 2025, if the report mentioned has been taken into consideration when planning for flood risk this winter. \p Emma Hardy: The Government continues to prioritise improving flood resilience to protect communities.

In developing policy, we consider the findings of research from key external partners, and this includes those in the Building Future Communities report.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Neil O'Brien:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the annual budget was for the (a) Water Services Regulation Authority and (b) Forestry Commission in each year since 2005. \p Emma Hardy: The Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) publishes figures on staff numbers and budget in its annual report and accounts. These can be found listed on GOV.UK or among Ofwat’s other publications on its website. The sharp rise in both budget and staffing from 2023 reflects Ofwat’s expanded regulatory role, including oversight of water companies’ commitments for 2025-2030.

The Forestry Commission publishes figures on staff numbers and budget in its annual report and accounts. These are publicly available on GOV.UK. Forestry England, an agency of the Forestry Commission, self-generates a significant proportion of its income.
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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much maintenance activity has been carried out on Somerset’s Main Rivers in the last a) year, b) 5 years and c) 10 years. \p Emma Hardy: Since the flooding of 2013/14, over £47 million has been spent on operating flood defences and maintaining rivers in Somerset. This includes £4.7 million this financial year and over £24 million in the last five years.

This includes the daily operation and maintenance of hundreds of flood defence assets across the Somerset Levels and Moors and on the coast, the clearing of vegetation from river channels, the management of flood storage reservoirs and the deployment of additional pumps after heavy rainfall. In addition to this, the Environment Agency also provides a flood warning service and incident response 365 days of the year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Robbie Moore:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for opening the next application round for (a) Capital Grants, (b) the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, (c) the Farming Innovation Programme's Farming Futures R&D competition and (d) the Improving Farm Productivity Grant. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As of 1 August, strong demand for the Government’s £150 million Capital Grant offer means that all available funds for this round have now been allocated.

We plan to make further improvements to the offer for future rounds. We expect to open a new round for farmers to secure more funding during 2026. Other Countryside Stewardship capital grants which remain open for applications now are Woodland Tree Health grants, Capital grant plans, woodland management plans, Protection and Infrastructure grants and Higher Tier capital grants.

We continue to work to simplify and rationalise our wider capital grant funding from 2026 onwards. We want to ensure our grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature.

We also welcome the announcement within the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy to allocate at least £200 million to the Farming Innovation Programme up to 2030 which will offer continued targeted funding to drive innovation in agriculture.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Sarah Dyke:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money has been spent on improving flood defences in Somerset since 2014. \p Emma Hardy: Since the flooding of 2013/14, over £200 million of Flood and Coastal Risk Management Grant-in-Aid (FCRM GiA) and local levy has been spent on improving the standard of flood protection in the local authority areas of Somerset, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset. This is in addition to the annual budget of over £3 million for the Somerset Rivers Authority and the annual budget the Environment Agency has for repairing existing assets and individual property-level resilience programmes.

Improvements have included dredging, building new flood defences, raising river banks and roads and upgrading existing flood defences. The Environment Agency has also spent additional money on providing a local stock of Ultra High Volume Pumps so they are guaranteed to be available in the event of a major incident.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Jim McMahon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the total consumer debt outstanding for each water company in England and Wales for each year from 2015 to date. \p Emma Hardy: Ofwat is the economic regulator for the water sector in England and Wales.

In January 2025, Ofwat published a report analysing consumer debt that outlines key statistics on debt for household customers in England and Wales (please see page 49 for a summary of each water company). This information was not collected before 2023.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

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Charlotte Cane:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to monitor levels of pharmaceutical pollution in waterways. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) routinely monitors for over 100 pharmaceuticals within rivers using semi-quantitative methods that are routinely updated as new risks are identified by the EA's Prioritisation and Early Warning System (PEWS). The EA works with the water industry on the Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP), which considers pharmaceuticals in sewage effluent.

The Government has been working with water companies under their Chemical Investigations Programme (CIP), to improve the evidence base on the fate of contaminants following treatment processes. The current phase of the Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP4) includes a specific project to monitor pharmaceuticals in wastewater.

As a founding member of the Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) group, the EA advises on policy initiatives that will reduce pharmaceutical contamination of surface waters.
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Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve (a) nutrient pollution control and (b) ecological water quality in river water-courses in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency works closely with the relevant industries to mitigate these impacts. Wastewater inputs will be reduced via the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), which Thames Water are committed to deliver. Agricultural nutrient sources are addressed through farm inspections and enforcement where necessary and Natural England advisors operate in the catchment.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce a pollution risk costing model for Windermere based on Environment Agency modelling of other mainly coastal designated bathing sites. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency currently provides pollution forecasting at 171 coastal sites and is exploring the feasibility of providing a forecast for inland sites.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of a different classification system for lake ecosystems. \p Emma Hardy: In the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, ‘Schedule 5, classification’ shows there are already different standards for inland waters and for coastal and transitional waters when measuring E coli and intestinal enterococci. This means there are varying classifications of water quality thresholds depending on pathogen levels in place at different locations, recognising the distinct natural characteristics and hydrodynamics that exist in different water environments.

The SI that was laid 28 October and due to come into force 21 November this year will not change this.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to allocate funding to ensure that bathing-water sampling in Lake Windermere takes place year-round rather than seasonally. \p Emma Hardy: On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament a Statutory Instrument which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Core reform 3, which is due to come into force 21 November, introduces discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site where appropriate, allowing more flexible, locally tailored bathing seasons that reflect when people use the site.

We are working with the Environment Agency (EA) on a pre-implementation research project which will consult with stakeholders to ensure we have considered all the relevant factors. The outcome of this project will be set out in public guidance that will be published in due course.

Currently, the EA samples regularly throughout the season and this will continue with any bathing site extensions under core reform 3. This data is published regularly on the EA’s Swimfo bathing waters website ensuring the public can make an informed decision before entering the water.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to publish updated guidance on incorporating (a) blue-green algae and (b) other additional public health factors into bathing-water quality assessments. \p Emma Hardy: The purpose of the Regulations is to ensure the protection of public health through the use of monitoring and classifications. Bathing waters are one of the most visible ways in which the public interacts with the water environment and so it is critical that appropriate regulations meet the needs of water users and those involved with managing bathing water sites.

On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament an SI which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Coming into effect on 21 November 2025, these reforms include the scope to extend the bathing and monitoring season from 21 November 2025. We will continue to evaluate environmental and societal impacts of future reforms and engage stakeholders as we move to implementation.

Current guidelines on Environment Agency and Local Authority roles during pollution incidents, including blue-green algae, remain valid.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) extending the bathing season on a case-by-case basis and (b) implementing year-round testing. \p Emma Hardy: On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament an SI which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Core reform 3, which is due to come into force 21 November, introduces the discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site where appropriate, allowing more flexible, locally tailored bathing seasons that reflect when people use the site.

We are working with the Environment Agency on a pre-implementation research project. In this, we will consult with stakeholders to ensure we have considered all the relevant factors, including existing studies and other evidence like the EA’s recently published ‘Exploring recreational water use in England’ report, during development. The outcome of this research project will be set out in public guidance that will be published in due course.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, what she plans to extend these protections to all recreational water users. \p Emma Hardy: Bathing waters are one of the most visible ways in which the public interacts with the water environment and so it is critical that appropriate regulations meet the needs of water users and those involved with managing bathing water sites.

In the November – December 2024 consultation on bathing water reforms, we asked respondents about the expansion of the definition of ‘bathers’ to include other water users. 90% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal and gave suggestions of what water users should be included. We are now exploring further research to determine how best to implement this reform and consider any potential environmental and societal impacts. Defra will engage with local and national stakeholders as this work progresses.
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Tim Farron:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of current sampling coverage at designated bathing-water sites. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) monitors all designated bathing waters above the minimum monthly frequency requirement of the Bathing Water Regulations during the bathing water season. Most sites are sampled weekly, in line with the World Health Organisation’s recommendations to reduce misclassification risk. Data is published on the EA’s Swimfo bathing waters website, ensuring bathers can make informed decisions.

On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament an SI which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Core reform 3 comes into force 21 November, introducing the discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site where appropriate, allowing locally tailored bathing seasons that reflect their use.

We are working with the EA on a pre-implementation research project, where we will consult with stakeholders to ensure we have considered all the relevant factors. The outcome will be set out in public guidance to be published in due course.
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Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current penalties for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in deterring illegal hunting. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government has not made such an assessment to date. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. The Act already provides for a range of penalties, including fines and forfeiture of dogs, vehicles and equipment used to commit an offence.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_78

Neil Duncan-Jordan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure trail hunting is not used as a cover for the illegal hunting of wild mammals with dogs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and we will consult specifically on how to deliver a ban in the new year.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_79

Dame Caroline Dinenage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect coastal towns from flooding. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is committed to supporting coastal communities and ensuring flood and coastal erosion risk management is fit for the challenges we face now and in the future.

Delivering on the Plan for Change, the Government is investing at least £10.5 billion by 2035/6 to construct new flood and coastal schemes and repair existing defences. This funding will better protect nearly 900,000 properties. Between April 2024 and March 2026, around £667 million is being invested into protection from sea flooding, tidal flooding and coastal erosion.

We delivered 151 schemes in our first year in Government and have redirected £108 million into urgent flood and coastal defence maintenance.

The Environment Agency (EA) has a coastal resilience team who operate at a national level. The team are supported by operational coastal specialists located in EA area teams around the coast of England who work closely with coastal local authorities to ensure that coastal flooding and erosion is managed in a coordinated way.
wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_80
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_80

Mr Toby Perkins:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact to non-quota stocks of fly-seine fishing vessel operations in the English Channel. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The number of fly-seine vessels operating in English waters including the Channel increased from 29 to 54 vessels between 2019 and 2024, while landings of non-quota stocks increased by some 50% between 2018 and 2023.

Many non-quota stocks are data limited and have little management. It is for this reason Defra prioritised the development of Fisheries Management Plans for Non Quota stocks.

In 2023 Defra published the Channel Demersal Non-Quota Stock Fisheries Management Plan to protect 19 vulnerable species and improve data collection. We also introduced precautionary measures including a minimum 100mm mesh size restriction for fly-seine vessels.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_81

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to incentivise the use of compostable fresh produce stickers through the Extended Producer Responsibility fee structure by using (a) green and (b) amber ratings under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology. \p Mary Creagh: At present, the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) does not provide a separate incentive for compostable materials; the methodology is designed to support a circular economy by prioritising materials that can be recycled into new products. Therefore, unless compostable stickers meet recyclability criteria under RAM, they would not qualify for a green rating and associated lower fees.

PackUK keeps RAM guidance/modulation under review and updates it annually to reflect changes in infrastructure and material performance. Any future consideration of changing ratings for compostable materials within the RAM would require evidence that they can be processed through existing recycling systems without contamination risk.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_82

Anneliese Midgley:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of (a) paying Extended Producer Responsibility fees on packaging supplied indirectly to business end users and (b) producers being charged for commercial waste disposal of that packaging on those producers. \p Mary Creagh: In autumn last year my department published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR) scheme on packaging producers as a whole, when the regulations were laid in parliament.

We are aware of industry concerns around producers being charged pEPR disposal fees for the management of packaging that is disposed of in commercial streams. At a roundtable with industry chaired by Minister Creagh on 10 June it was agreed to establish an industry led group to develop approaches to remove dual use packaging that is unlikely to end up in household waste stream from obligation. This work is now well advanced, and my department is carefully reviewing proposed approaches and will seek to balance sectoral ambitions against the operational integrity of the scheme.  We will continue to engage with industry during this process as we seek to establish a final approach.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_83

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what legal advice the Church of England has received on the proposed use of church funds for slavery reparations through Project Spire. \p Marsha De Cordova: I refer the Hon. Member for Romford to the written answer to the question asked by the Hon. Member for the Weald of Kent published on 6 May 2025 (UIN 47114). Any legal advice received is subject to legal privilege in the usual way

An application to the Charities Commission for a new Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice is being prepared

Please note that the response to the historic links with African chattel enslavement (known internally by the programme/project name ‘Spire’) is not “slavery reparations”.  The Church Commissioners hope and pray that the new Fund will be an act of reparative justice and part of a meaningful process of healing and repair to bring about a better, fairer, future for all.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_84

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to encourage more people to attend Sunday services in their local parish church. \p Marsha De Cordova: The National Church Institutions have allocated £236million in the next funding window (2026-2028) to the Diocesan Investment Programme. This financial support goes directly to dioceses to advance their missional plans for local parishes and communities.

In the Chelmsford Diocese, which covers the Hon. Member for Romford's constituency, in the current funding period, the Barking episcopal area was granted £14.95m to resource parish churches across the London Boroughs of Havering, Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, Newham and Redbridge.

This funding is now being rolled out and will see appointments made to clergy and lay worker posts, children and families’ worker roles and a broad range of missional projects.

The combined effect of this investment will see missional growth stimulated, resulting not only in increased Sunday worship attendance but also greater footfall and take up of missional opportunities and social action projects throughout the week.

The Bishop of Barking or the local Archdeacon would be best placed to speak to if the Hon member has queries about the local context: https://www.chelmsford.anglican.org/about-us/our-areas/barking-area-team#team
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_85

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what recent steps the Church of England has taken to encourage more people under the age of 40 to attend Sunday services in Romford constituency. \p Marsha De Cordova: The Church of England has committed to ‘Growing Younger’ as part of its Vision and Strategy for the 2020s, which prioritises creating a church that is younger and more diverse. The central goal is to double the number of children and young active disciples by 2030.

Most recently, £16.3 million was allocated by the National Church Institutions to youth evangelism projects nationwide, including £6.45 million for the Diocese of Chelmsford’s “Believing in Barking” youth and community mission project, which will also include projects in Romford.

The Diocese of Chelmsford and its clergy are actively engaging people under 40 in the life of the Church, supporting a variety of initiatives and vocations in worship, ministry, youth work, schools, and community outreach.

There are three specific projects in the Romford Constituency about to get underway; the projects detailed below constitute a direct investment in the constituency of over £ 1.25 million across the next 5 years. The Hon member for Romford may wish to visit the projects once they are commenced.

• All Saints Ardleigh Green, where the parish is recruiting a Children, Young People and Families Worker in the new year, is shared with St Andrews Hornchurch. This role will focus on children, young people, and family support, particularly working with NewCity Academy. An additional stipendiary role is also planned at Holy Cross Church in 2026 with another CYPF worker shared with St Andrews.

• St Albans Romford – will be recruiting a missional priest, with specific responsibility for developing a younger demographic within the existing congregation.

• St George’s, Harold Hill – As one of the active estate churches within the diocese, it will receive additional support and funding to support its children and youth provision.

The Barking Episcopal Area of the Chelmsford Diocese has some specific priorities: • To “double the number of churches with >25 children and young people attending”• To increase the number of trained lay volunteers within children, young people and family ministry and work

• To have Deanery children, young people and family in place

Further projects that cover the Romford Constituency are in the early stages of development, to support: • Ministry and support for low-income communities• Resourcing children and young people's clubs and organisations • Making worship more engaging/accessible• Nurturing the faith of children, young people and their families.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-11-24)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-11-24 conversation_86

Andrew Rosindell:To ask the hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment the Church of England has made of the potential impact on the decriminalisation of abortion on clergy’s cure of souls. \p Marsha De Cordova: In her capacity as Lead Bishop on Health and Social Care, the Bishop of London made a statement related to the proposed changes to abortion law on 20th June 2025, which can be found in full on the Church of England website at: https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/abortion-law-changes-comment-bishop-london

It included the following:

“Considering any fundamental reform to this country’s abortion laws should not be done via an amendment to another Bill. There should be public consultation and robust Parliamentary process to ensure that every legal and moral aspect of this debate is carefully considered and scrutinised. We need a path that supports women, not one that puts them and their unborn children in the way of greater harm.”

Assessing the potential impact of such a legal change is a long-term process, and Lords Spiritual continue to engage with the Crime and Policing Bill as it progresses through Parliament.