theodi/ndl-core-corpus huggingface dataset:
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1074
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1074

Stuart Andrew:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s Epidemiology Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1 outbreaks in Great Britain, October 2022 to March 2023, published on 30 March 2023, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of ending the blanket ban on poultry shows in England and Wales. \p Dame Angela Eagle: This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Regulation 6 of the Avian Influenza (Preventive Measures) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended, sets out the legal basis for permitting gatherings (such as shows) of poultry or other captive birds. In England, a licence to hold a bird gathering may be granted by Defra if a veterinary risk assessment has been carried out, and if the gathering, including the movement of birds to and from it, would not significantly increase the risk of the transmission of avian influenza virus. Detailed risk assessments can be found on GOV.UK.

A licence for a poultry gathering, such as a show, may be granted if the gathering and the transport of birds to and from it would not significantly increase the risk of the spread of bird flu. For each application for a licence to hold a gathering of poultry, an individual risk assessment will be completed, and mitigating conditions will be set out in the licence.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1075
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1075

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a consultation on phasing out the use of farrowing crates for pigs. \p Dame Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 to the hon. Member for Birmingham Northfield, PQ UIN 41698.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1076
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1076

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help (a) reduce input costs and (b) increase labour levels in the agricultural sector. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Investment in agricultural R&D and innovative practices through the Farming Innovation Programme is helping farmers and growers increase productivity, reduce input costs, and adopt more sustainable practices. In the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, we announced at least £200 million to the programme up to 2030 so underlining our continued commitment to supporting innovation in agriculture, including reducing inputs.

Defra is also working closely with The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH) which is encouraging young people and new entrants into farming in its capacity as an industry led professional body for the farming industry. This includes leading a cross-industry initiative to address common negative misconceptions about the sector and providing free TIAH membership for students.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1077
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1077

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) enforcement of the current illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing import controls. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK Government is strongly committed to preventing seafood caught from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from entering the UK supply chain. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments, Marine Management Organisation and Port Health Authorities to manage the risk of illegally caught fish entering the UK. For example, the UK maintains a strict ban on seafood imports from countries that have been identified as non-cooperative in tackling IUU fishing as well as seafood caught by vessels included in the UK’s IUU vessel list identified as having engaged in IUU fishing. Controls are also in place to prevent foreign vessels accessing UK ports if suspected of engaging in IUU fishing. Furthermore, all wild-caught fish imported into the UK must be accompanied by validated catch certificates to ensure legality and traceability.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1078
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1078

Sir Julian Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help expedite grant clearance under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) understands the importance of cashflow for farmers and rural businesses. The Agency used an Online Application system to streamline data collection and is using automation to simplify due diligence checks. Agreement Holders should claim their payment by the deadline of midday on 31 March 2026 and provide all of the necessary evidence. The RPA aims to process and pay complete claims within 60 working days and continues to look at opportunities to expedite grant clearance for the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund as promptly as possible.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1079
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1079

Fabian Hamilton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) farmers and (b) exporters are protected from unfair supermarket practices not covered by the (i) Groceries Code Adjudicator and (ii) Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025.

The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations. This is distinct from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which regulates the relationship between large retailers and their direct suppliers.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to regulating the supply chain and providing opportunities to assess the effectiveness of the approach.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1080
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1080

Sir John Hayes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents of animal welfare abuse have been recorded in Lincolnshire in each of the last five years. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Defra does not collect figures for animal welfare abuse incidents by local authority area.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1081
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1081

Phil Brickell:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on banning foie gras imports. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government shares the British public's high regard for animal welfare and has made clear that the production of foie gras from ducks or geese using force feeding raises serious welfare concerns. Foie gras production using force feeding has been banned in the UK for nearly 20 years as it is not compatible with our animal welfare legislation.

Defra is continuing to consider the evidence and options in relation to foie gras.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1082
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1082

Suella Braverman:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the UK’s food security. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The UK has a resilient food supply chain and is equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption.

Food security is built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease does not affect the UK's overall security of supply.

The Food Sector is one of the UK's 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are joint Lead Government Departments (LGDs), with Defra leading on supply and the FSA on food safety. We work closely with the Cabinet Office and other LGDs ensuring food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1083
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1083

Aphra Brandreth:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the financial resilience of Thames Water. \p Emma Hardy: Our current assessment is that the company remains financially stable. The Government has stepped up our preparations and stands ready for all eventualities, including applying for a SAR if that were to become necessary. The Government will continue to work with the economic regulator of the water industry Ofwat to help support a market led solution to the company’s issues of financial resilience and operational delivery, which is in the interests of customers and the environment.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1084
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1084

Sarah Champion:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of animal welfare enforcement in commercial pig farms; and what steps she is taking to ensure that audit and inspection processes lead to (a) timely investigation, (b) transparency and (c) meaningful sanctions where breaches are identified. \p Dame Angela Eagle: All farm animals are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation, and potential breaches of the law are taken very seriously. We are actively working with enforcement authorities to reform the way they collect and publish data of on-farm enforcement activities and the actions they take to support compliance and act on non-compliance. We will also explore whether the current enforcement tools used by our enforcement bodies are effective, proportionate and transparent.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1085
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1085

Laura Kyrke-Smith:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent the overfishing of commercially important species. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The Government is committed to restoring our stocks to sustainable levels and supporting the long-term viability of the UK fishing industry. This is in line with our domestic and international obligations, including those of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement. We work with international partners to set annual catch limits for shared fish stocks, consistent with the best available scientific advice on the state of those stocks. This is principally advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. We are also taking action to sustainably manage our marine resources through Marine Protected Area management and Fisheries Management Plans, which apply to all vessels in UK waters.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1086
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1086

Mr Peter Bedford:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that animal welfare laws are more strictly enforced on farms. \p Dame Angela Eagle: All farm animals are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation, and potential breaches of the law are taken very seriously. Any allegations of poor animal welfare are investigated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) who conduct an immediate veterinary risk assessment (triage). APHA will take appropriate action and where necessary, inspect the farm and the livestock present within 24hrs. The local authority, as an appropriate enforcement agency, may initiate prosecution action for animal welfare offences where there is sufficient evidence.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1087
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1087

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage investment in on-farm (a) water storage and (b) irrigation infrastructure. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency’s National Framework for water resources highlights a number of actions that will help farmers and growers improve water supply resilience. These include:

o understand near-real time water availability, to enable abstractors to take water when it is there.

o improve irrigation scheduling and sensors to optimise water use.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1088
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1088

Dr Al Pinkerton:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve animal welfare in the egg industry in Surrey Heath constituency. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, eligible poultry keepers have had access to capital grants to improve flock welfare. In September 2024, the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant provided funding contributions towards infrastructure projects to deliver excellent animal health and welfare. Additionally, the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, which closed its third round on 10 July, offered grants of £1,000 to £25,000 for equipment tackling a range of health and welfare challenges.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1089
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1089

Mike Martin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a timetable for the roll-out of the new pet passport scheme. \p Dame Angela Eagle: As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will be easier and cheaper.

Instead of getting an animal health certificate each time they travel, pet owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU.

We are expecting to start negotiations in the autumn, once the EU has confirmed their mandate.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1090
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1090

Adam Dance:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the conclusions of the research project on operational challenges preventing some cats from being reunited with their keepers after road traffic accidents. \p Dame Angela Eagle: The research report for the project entitled "Impact of waste management processes on reunifying owners with their dead cats and dogs found by the roadside" is undergoing review. A report will be published once those procedures have concluded.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1091
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1091

Liz Jarvis:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring into force the legislative provisions of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023. \p Dame Angela Eagle: We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1092
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1092

Dr Neil Hudson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent trends in the level of inflation for food and drink on food security. \p Dame Angela Eagle: UK consumer food prices depend on a range of factors including agri-food import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and Sterling exchange rates. Changes in food prices are dependent on changes in one or more of these factors.

The latest available data (up to 2023) show that food prices in the UK remained lower than in most advanced economies and the lowest among G7 countries (OECD).

After the USA, UK households spend the lowest share of their expenditure on food and non-alcoholic drinks in the G7 (OECD).

In FYE 2024, households spent 11.3% of their spend on food, rising to 14.3% for the lowest 20% by income. Over the last 10 years these figures have been relatively stable, barring the impact of coronavirus in 2020-22.

We have taken the decisions needed to stabilise the public finances, but we know there’s more to do to ease the cost of living – which working people face the brunt of.

That’s why we’ve raised the minimum wage, extended the £3 bus fare cap, expanded free school meals to over half a million more children, and are rolling out free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.

The Government has also extended Free School Meals to over half a million more children. That policy alone will lift 100,000 children out of poverty.

And our commitment to the Triple Lock means that 12 million pensioners will receive an increase of up to £470 a year – worth £1,900 over the Parliament.

Through our Plan for Change we’re going further and faster to put more money in people's pockets.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1093
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1093

Mr Richard Holden:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what oversight exists of local authorities that (a) keep and (b) exhibit animals in public parks, and what steps her Department is taking to ensure such animals are kept in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006. \p Dame Angela Eagle: Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that kept animals, including those accommodated or exhibited in public parks, are cared for in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Where a local authority itself exhibits animals, it is expected to meet the same high welfare standards that apply to any operator under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018. These Regulations require anyone in the business of keeping or training animals for exhibition to hold a valid licence and to comply with strict statutory minimum welfare standards, including requirements relating to the animal's environment, diet, health, and provision of appropriate care and supervision.

The 2018 Regulations are accompanied by statutory guidance developed to help local authorities enforce the licensing regime fairly and consistently. The guidance for keeping or training animals for exhibition can be found here.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1094
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1094

Lizzi Collinge:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prepare for the implementation of the Global Ocean Treaty. \p Emma Hardy: The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement is an important step toward coordinated global action to tackle the climate and nature crisis.  The UK Government introduced legislation on 10 September to enable the UK to implement its obligations under the BBNJ Agreement and move towards ratification. We anticipate that a Statutory Instrument (SI) is required to implement changes to domestic legislation to implement BBNJ provisions relating to Environmental Impact Assessments before the UK can ratify. This SI is being developed by Defra and will be laid before Parliament after the BBNJ Bill receives Royal Assent. Defra will consult stakeholders on the proposed approach to the SI in Autumn 2025. As part of this, Defra is working closely with both the Marine Management Organisation and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science to understand any practical aspects of implementation of the BBNJ Agreement.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1095
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1095

Bradley Thomas:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of household water bills in 2025; and what discussions her Department plans to have with Ofwat on levels of water bills. \p Emma Hardy: 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.

On October 9, the Competition and Markets Authority published its provisional decision that, for the five companies that appealed, bills should increase further. This decision remains subject to consultation and they will not publish their final decision until early next year. This is an independent, statutory process.

The Government has acted decisively by consulting on reforms to WaterSure - the statutory scheme which caps bills for low-income customers with necessary higher water usage and by introducing new and increased compensation for companies to pay customers in the event of unforeseen disruption to supply.

We expect water companies to ensure that their customers know what support schemes are available and how to use them if they need help.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1096
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1096

Navendu Mishra:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the volume of water lost to leakage in the United Utilities network in each of the last five years. \p Emma Hardy: Total leakage data is reported to the Environment Agency annually by water companies through the statutory Water Resources Management Plan annual review process.

A summary of 2023/24 water company performance across the country, which includes leakage data, is available here.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1097
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1097

Jim Shannon:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of blue-green algae on water quality in UK rivers. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) works with others including local authorities and Public Health England to manage waterbodies affected by blue-green algae and the risks they pose. The EA does not routinely monitor for blue-green algae but attends incidents and analyses samples where appropriate, assessing the risks and notifying water body owners, abstractors, Environmental Health Officers, as necessary.

Excessive nutrient enrichment is a major cause of algal blooms. The Government recognises this and is taking action to reduce nutrient pollution. The Environment Act 2021 sets legally binding goals to cut agricultural nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment entering water by 40% by 2038 (compared to a 2018 baseline), and to reduce phosphorus loadings from treated wastewater by 80% by 2038 (compared to a 2020 baseline). We have also committed to a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline how Defra will meet these targets.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1098
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1098

Dr Scott Arthur:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the article by the University of Edinburgh entitled Rescuing the cities of the deep: Corals from oil platforms find new homes off Shetland, published on 16 September 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the research undertaken by the University of Edinburgh into the use of corals harvested from subsea structures to establish artificial reefs as part of seabed restoration projects. \p Emma Hardy: The UK is home to cold-water corals off our coast and tropical coral reefs within our Overseas Territories. With 4,700 square kilometres of corals across our UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, the UK is responsible for the twelfth largest area of coral reefs in the world. Coral reefs host about a quarter of all known marine species and are a key source of food, livelihoods and economic opportunities to people in more than 100 countries around the world. We are engaged with this initiative from the University of Edinburgh and continue to consider all relevant evidence concerning the status and management of coral reefs, such as the 2025 global coral reef status report by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1099
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1099

Damian Hinds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for (a) reviewing and (b) publishing her assessment of Southern Water’s Water Resources Management Plan 24. \p Emma Hardy: We are currently reviewing Southern Water’s draft Water Resources Management Plan with water regulators. The Secretary of State will make a decision on the next steps is due course.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1100
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1100

Steff Aquarone:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the flood and coastal erosion risk management funding policy takes account of the cultural value of areas. \p Emma Hardy: This Government is investing at least a record £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history which is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Under the new rules the benefits of heritage, natural environment, tourism, and recreation are included as part of project appraisal.

The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1101
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1101

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of the performance of Thames Water’s priority services register during the water supply interruption in (a) Lyneham, (b) Royal Wootton Bassett, (c) Lydiard, (d) Purton, (e) Cricklade and (f) Cirencester on 21 September 2025. \p Emma Hardy: Under the Security and Emergency Measures Direction 2022 (SEMD), water companies are required to identify and prioritise vulnerable customers when responding to water supply interruption incidents. Defra expects companies to follow Ofwat guidance on priority services registers to meet this requirement.

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) regulate water company performance against SEMD requirements.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1102
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1102

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with (a) Ofwat, (b) the Department for Health and Social Care and (c) local authorities to enable proportionate data-sharing so that (i) water companies and (ii) councils can identify vulnerable households for priority services register support. \p Emma Hardy: Water companies manage their own lists of customers who are on the Priority Services Register.

Ofwat, the economic regulator, has set out in their vulnerability guidance that companies should consider how their records of customers’ needs can be designed in a way that can help deliver wider benefits to their customers; for example, reducing communication burdens for customers through data sharing.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1103
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1103

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the (a) Environment Agency and (b) Drinking Water Inspectorate assesses the potential impact of repeated potable-water leaks on (i) soil structure damage, (ii) runoff pathways and (iii) other (A) environmental and (B) soil issues; and if she will issue guidance to farmers on (1) reporting and (2) remediation. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency has ensured that water companies have robust plans in place to halve leakage by 2050. The pathway to achieving this involves a reduction of approximately 30% by 2030 from 2019/20 levels. This equates to a nearly 700 Million litres per day reduction in leakage from the baseline. Water companies are now funded to deliver this through their business plans, and regulators will be assessing company performance in meeting this commitment.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1104
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1104

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of households registered on water companies’ priority services registers in each region of England. \p Emma Hardy: Approximately 3,112,400 customers were on the Priority Services Register in 2023/24. More precise information is not held by the department.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1105
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1105

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of annual re-validation requirements for priority services register customers on retention of vulnerable households; and if she will consider introducing an (a) opt-out and (b) auto-renewal model for customers (i) aged 75+, (ii) on disability benefits and (iii) with clinically significant needs. \p Emma Hardy: Defra does not regulate the priority services register. Ofwat, as the economic regulator, has made clear in their priority services register guidance that companies should achieve actual contact with 35% of households on their priority services register every two years, and attempt contact with 90% of households on the register every two years.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1106
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1106

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the cost to the public purse of reinstating (a) full public access and (b) navigation at Temple Footbridge in Hurley. \p Emma Hardy: Full navigation access at Temple Footbridge will be reinstated once the central section of the bridge is removed and taken off site for inspection and secure storage. This is now expected to take place in November 2025, at a cost of approximately £450,000. Public pedestrian access will be reinstated once the bridge is either refurbished or replaced. The costs of this will be known once the outline design is completed in March 2026 and the removed central section in fully inspected.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1107
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1107

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of water company compliance with priority services register commitments during unplanned outages. \p Emma Hardy: New customer service standards came into force on 1 October, which include a standard on the priority services register. These set out the minimum standards of service companies must provide to customers registered for any of the three core priority services, one of which is delivery of an alternative water supply during any supply interruption. If, during a supply interruption, a company does not provide or is late in providing this service to the registered customer, they must automatically make a minimum £100 payment to the customer.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1108
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1108

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to provide additional resources to the Environment Agency to support works to restore full navigation under Temple Footbridge in Hurley. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) will continue to invest in its Navigation infrastructure. Once the indicative costs of completing the Temple Footbridge project is known, the amount of additional grant in aid available to the EA for this project will be calculated.
wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1109
Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1109

Mr Joshua Reynolds:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has allocated funding for the (a) repair and (b) reopening of Temple Footbridge in Hurley. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) is investing up to £500k this financial year to progress the initial phases of the Temple Footbridge (Hurley) and Marsh Horsebridge (Henley on Thames) projects. This includes the preparation of outline designs, which are expected to be completed by 31 March 2026, along with any further specialist surveys and visualisations that are needed to assist the future delivery of these projects. The outline designs will be used to calculate the indicative costs of the completed projects, and therefore how much partnership funding will be needed alongside any government grant in aid that will be allocated. The EA has been working with local stakeholders to develop a partnership funding strategy for these projects. This will start to be implemented once the outline designs and completion costs are finalised.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1110

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of households on water company priority services registers that have experienced supply interruptions of (a) six, (b) 12 and (c) 24 hours or more in each of the last five years. \p Emma Hardy: Approximately 3,112,400 customers were on the Priority Services Register in 2023/24.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1111

Jack Rankin:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost of maintaining and keeping open the Jubilee River Channel in the last four years. \p Emma Hardy: The Jubilee River is part of the Maidenhead, Windsor and Eaton Flood Alleviation Scheme which is operated and maintained by the Environment Agency. The cost of maintaining and keeping the Jubilee River channel open are difficult to extract from the overall cost of operating and maintaining the flood alleviation scheme; calculating this would fall into disproportionate costs. The Environment Agency has allocated £2.3m for maintenance and capital improvements on the whole Maidenhead, Windsor and Eaton Flood Alleviation Scheme this year. In previous years spending has varied, depending on the programme of work.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1112

Dr Roz Savage:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase the number of (a) older, (b) disabled and (c) medically vulnerable customers who have signed up to priority services registers. \p Emma Hardy: All water companies have priority service registers (PSR), which customers can voluntarily sign up to. Significant progress has already been made by companies in the 2020-25 period with PSRs growing from less than 2% of households in England and Wales in 2020, to over 10% in 2023/24.

Ofwat, as the economic regulator, has made clear in their priority services register guidance that companies should make all reasonable endeavours towards having a comprehensive picture of PSR service requirements of individual customers in their area, and that this will require companies to grow their PSRs beyond 2025 levels. They also make clear that as companies take steps to grow their PSRs, they should prioritise those customers at greatest risk of harm.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1113

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has a set timeline for achieving Good Ecological Status for all waterbodies in England. \p Emma Hardy: The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), transposed into our law through the Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) 2017, has an overall goal to aim to achieve Good Ecological Status (GES) for surface water by December 2027, subject to certain exemptions. Applying the exemptions provided for in WFD represents 77% of England’s water bodies to achieve GES. These goals set a very challenging ambition for the UK as WFD does for most European countries.

The Government acknowledged last year in response to the Office of Environmental Protection’s report on Water Framework Directive Regulations that there had not been enough progress towards the Framework's goal over the last 15 years. Since then, the Government launched the Independent Water Commission, to consider how the current regulatory framework could be improved to drive progress and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas. The Government will be setting out its plans to do this in the coming period.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1114

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (a) what recent assessment her Department has made of adequacy of the ecological health of chalk streams; and (b) what steps she is taking to meet Environment Act 2021 targets for their recovery. \p Emma Hardy: Under the Environment Act 2021, a legally binding target was set to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment from agriculture entering the water environment by 40% by 2038. We have committed to a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how Defra will deliver our ambitious Environment Act targets to clean up our waterways.

This Government is already taking action to restore our chalk streams to better ecological health. Our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan ensures chalk streams are prioritised for improvement as part of the record £11 billion investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows in England and Wales. We are reducing the risk of harmful abstraction by an estimated 126 million litres daily by 2030 through the amendment of water company abstraction licences, protecting vital water flows to these fragile ecosystems.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1115

Helen Maguire:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has considered using multi-year rolling averages to measure progress on reducing storm overflow discharges. \p Emma Hardy: The Environment Agency (EA) considers seasonal variations, including periods of low river flow, when setting and reviewing environmental permits for water discharge and groundwater activities under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

Where evidence shows that changing flow patterns, such as more frequent or prolonged low flows, affect environmental risk, the EA can review and vary permits accordingly.

Defra keeps permitting approaches under review, taking account of evolving hydrological data, climate change projections, and wider environmental objectives to ensure permits remain protective, proportionate, and responsive to changing pressures.

The Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan spill frequency targets for storm overflows (ecological, bathing and rainfall targets) are defined as an average over 10 consecutive years. It is recognised that a 10-year assessment requires significant time to determine permit compliance and therefore, to secure early identification of underperforming storm overflows, the EA may use a shorter-term regulatory compliance assessment.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1116

Catherine Fookes:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help reduce insurance premiums for homes at high risk of flooding. \p Emma Hardy: Flood Re is a joint Government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider.

In 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. 650,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch. Notably, prior to Flood Re’s inception, the average home insurance quote for a householder with a flood claim was about £4,400. As of December 2024, the average was c. £1,100. Additionally, 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 10 or more insurers.

I met with senior leaders from the insurance industry this month. We discussed how the industry can support their customers both to secure relevant and affordable insurance, and at the point of claim.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1117

Chris Hinchliff:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to increase nature-rich spaces by rivers to (a) reduce agricultural pollution and (b) protect and (c) enhance chalk streams. \p Emma Hardy: Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to addressing the multiple pressures facing chalk streams and restoring them to better ecological health. This Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good: we will ensure that chalk streams benefit from this era of reform.

Our Environmental Land Management schemes funding will increase by 150% to £2 billion by 2028/2029, providing incentives for farmers and land managers to farm more sustainably – six of our Landscape Recovery projects are being developed in chalk stream catchments.

Additionally, we have committed to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how Defra will deliver our legally binding targets. The Government will develop a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery plans to meet each of our ambitious Environment Act targets.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1118

Chris Coghlan:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environment Agency's document entitled National assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk in England 2024, updated on 22 January 2025, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of insurance premiums for (a) households (b) businesses and (c) public buildings following the publication of that document. \p Emma Hardy: Insurers consider a range of factors in setting premiums for insurance policies that include cover against flooding. This will include factors such as previous claims history, as well as future risk of flooding. Insurance companies may use Environment Agency data, alongside their own commercially available modelling to inform their assessment of the risk. The decision to insure a property is a commercial decision made by the insurer.

I work closely with the insurance industry, for example, through the Floods Resilience Taskforce, which includes an Action Group focused on improving flood insurance provision and uptake, and the Insurance Roundtables, most recently held on 13 October, where leaders discussed how insurers can support customers to access affordable cover and improve experiences at the point of claim.
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Source: hansard.parliament.uk (2025-10-20)

UK Parliament Hansard data: wrans/answers2025-10-20 conversation_1119

Callum Anderson:To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of proposed water-saving measures on water availability in (a) Buckinghamshire and (b) Milton Keynes. \p Emma Hardy: We are consulting on tighter water efficiency standards for new homes in Building Regulations. Within this we have assessed the policy’s impact on home construction and will be considering developer responses to enable a smooth transition. Our assessment considered the policy at a national level and not specifically its impact on Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. Industry research found the cost of water efficiency is low for developers in comparison with the cost of development blockages caused by subsequent water scarcity. The cost of retrofitting water efficient devices is around £40-100 and can be offset by the incentives offered to developers by water companies.

The proposed measures will unlock stalled developments in areas of water scarcity and could unlock 1,000 homes for every 5,250 built, while saving households over £100 a year on bills.

The Government response to the consultation will outline how we propose to monitor and evaluate the final policy.