Written questions by Jogee.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure that effective penalties are imposed on people that illegally dump waste in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps she has taken to support farmers in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire to export British beef.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the (a) development and (b) use of innovative technology in farming in Staffordshire.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help communities in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire restore nature.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support farmers whose livestock are affected by bovine tuberculosis outbreaks in a) Audley, b) Newcastle-under-Lyme and c) Staffordshire.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) has a devastating impact on farming communities. That is why the Government is working with farmers and scientists to co-design a new bovine TB strategy, expected in the coming weeks, to deliver the step change needed to achieve disease freedom by 2038. I also refer to the reply given on 16 April, PQ UIN 125856, which sets out some of the further support available to farmers, including those in Audley, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire, experiencing a TB breakdown in their herd.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Office for Environmental Protection.

Defra and the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) share an ambition to protect and enhance the environment. Nature is at the very foundation of growth, as nature’s recovery is a prerequisite of prosperity, health and wellbeing. It is Defra’s urgent priority to secure better outcomes for nature while accelerating growth, including through sustainable infrastructure development. Defra welcomes the OEP’s engagement in this agenda and supports a constructive relationship with them.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the (a) effectiveness and (b) performance of the Rural Payments Agency.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Government of Gibraltar about the processing of raw sewage in Gibraltar.

Ministers meet regularly with the Government of Gibraltar to discuss a range of environmental matters including wastewater management.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the cleanliness of Lough Neagh.

We are closely engaged with our counterparts across the UK, including the Northern Ireland Executive, on the shared challenge of improving water quality. Baroness Hayman visited Lough Neagh with Minister Muir in March 2025 to see and discuss the particular challenges faced locally. Ministers from across the UK subsequently met in November 2025 at the Interministerial Group for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to discuss the challenge of improving our waters, agreeing to establish enhanced sharing of research data and behavioural change evidence to support policy making and delivery across the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement her Department has had with SADC Heads of Mission to the United Kingdom about Trophy Hunting.

The Department’s most recent engagement with a number of SADC State representatives on trophy hunting was a meeting held by Baroness Hayman in May 2025 to discuss the Government’s commitment to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent changes in the cost of fertiliser on farmers in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and (b) Staffordshire.

The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound. The current situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current rising fertiliser prices are being monitored closely. Defra has asked the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to increase the frequency of its fertiliser price reporting and this data is now being published on a weekly basis. This will give farmers more timely and transparent information to support their decision-making. Defra has also issued a fertiliser survey aimed at farmers and land managers to help build better understanding of direct impacts. Defra will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand any potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken on the roll out of the Animal Welfare Strategy for England.

The Animal Welfare Strategy sets out the priority issues we will address, focusing on the changes and improvements we aim to achieve by 2030. Policies will be delivered throughout this time. The Government has already launched consultations on phasing out cages for laying hens and improving lamb welfare, which closed on 9 March. It is now considering the responses received. On 26 March, Defra also launched a consultation seeking views on how best to deliver an effective and enforceable ban on trail hunting in England and Wales and any potential social, community, economic, business or environmental impacts. Defra has also published the results of the previous government’s call for evidence on the fur trade as well as the Animal Welfare Committee’s opinion on the responsible sourcing of fur and published the Post-implementation review of the Welfare at Time of Killing Regulations. Other commitments in the strategy will be taken forward in a phased approach to keep up momentum on improving the lives of millions of animals.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to ban the sale of fur.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to Steve Witherden on 31 March 2026, PQ UIN 122919.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of bovine tuberculosis on the health and wellbeing of farmers in a) Newcastle-under-Lyme and b) Staffordshire.

The Government recognises that bovine TB causes great distress to the farming community and how important it is for farmers experiencing a TB breakdown in their herd to be supported through what are exceptionally stressful times. Defra provides grant funding to the Farming Community Network (FCN) which offers confidential, non-judgemental support and advice on a whole range of topics, around health, wellbeing and finance. Further details on the FCN can be found online at: www.fcn.org.uk including information about their confidential, national helpline. The TB Advisory Service (www.tbas.org.uk) is a Defra funded initiative that provides free, bespoke advice to keepers of cattle and farmed non-bovine animals in England on measures that can be taken to reduce the risk and impact of bovine TB. TBAS provides this advice and delivers this support through on-farm advice visits, one-to-one advisory sessions and a telephone helpline.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to help ensure the provision of green skills to deliver a more circular economy.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature, and a more resilient economy. We intend to publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how the Government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy. The Plan will set out the biggest opportunities to support growth in sectors right across the economy, including: agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; textiles; and transport.  It will consider critical enablers including skills and infrastructure. Defra recognises that fostering green skills is a fundamental tenet of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to deliver on strengthening our current green workforce as well as developing the new green skills we will need for the future. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the additional jobs that will be required in the reuse and repair sectors as the UK moves to a more circular economy.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for longer and waste is designed out. This systemic change, with investment in green jobs and vital infrastructure, builds a path to economic growth, progress towards Net Zero, restoration of nature, and a more resilient economy. We intend to publish a Circular Economy Growth Plan that sets out how the Government will deliver a more circular and more prosperous economy. The Plan will set out the biggest opportunities to support growth in sectors right across the economy, including: agri-food; built environment; chemicals and plastics; electrical and electronic equipment; textiles; and transport.  It will consider critical enablers including skills and infrastructure. Defra recognises that fostering green skills, including those needed for repair and reuse, is a fundamental tenet of any circular economy, and a successful transition aims to deliver on strengthening our current green workforce as well as developing the new green skills we will need for the future. We will consider the evidence for appropriate action right across the economy as we develop the Plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet with the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss the potential merits of compensation for tenant farmers who lose land due to non-agricultural development.

The Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) raised the important matter of compensation for tenant farmers when they recently met with me, one in a series of regular meetings. The Secretary of State is also due to meet with the TFA, providing another opportunity for this issue to be discussed.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many a) letters and b) emails about Walleys Quarry Landfill Site her Department received from the i) Leader and ii) Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme District Borough Council between 1 January 2020 and 4 July 2024.

To determine the total number of items of correspondence (including letters and emails) between Newcastle Under Lyme Borough Council and Defra would incur disproportionate cost. I am able to say that six letters from the Leader or Chief Executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council concerning Walleys Quarry have been identified as having been received within the specified time period, but this is not exhaustive. Records are not held centrally for all of the time period specified, or at all in the case of emails.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to help increase workforce numbers in the farming and agriculture sectors in (a) Newcastle-under-Lyme, (b) Staffordshire and (c) England.

The Government recognises that access to a sufficient workforce is essential for the resilience and productivity of the farming and agriculture sectors. Defra works closely with other Government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Department for Education, to support workforce supply and ensure that employers in agriculture can access the people and skills they need. This includes engagement on employment programmes, skills routes and local delivery, which can benefit businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and across England. Through the agricultural reform programme, we are investing £2.7 billion a year to support productivity, innovation and business resilience, helping to make farming and agriculture more sustainable and attractive as long-term careers. The DWP delivers Sector-based Work Academy Programmes, which provide training, work experience and a guaranteed job interview tailored to employer needs. Between April 2021 and December 2025, DWP delivered 1,380 SWAP starts in the agriculture sector, helping employers to recruit and support people into agricultural roles.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on helping to provide young people with the skills and knowledge to undertake jobs in the farming and agriculture sector.

Young people are essential to the long-term resilience of UK agriculture, and Defra works closely with industry bodies, including the National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs, to promote careers in the sector and to understand the challenges facing new entrants. Through its agricultural reform programme, Defra is investing £2.7 billion a year to support a productive, sustainable farming sector. This includes measures to improve business resilience, productivity and skills development, which help make agriculture a more accessible and attractive career option for young people, including those in Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire.