Written questions by Jogee.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many Ramsar sites have had their ecological character threatened in each of the last 14 years.

In line with Article 3.2 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar Convention), Contracting Parties are committed to monitor their Ramsar Sites and inform the Secretariat whenever the ecological character of a site has changed, is changing, or is likely to change as a result of human interference. Over the last 14 years, 9 cases have been opened for UK Ramsar Sites under Article 3.2. Following actions to manage these changes or risks of change, the majority have been closed. Three cases remain open with regards to the following sites:Ouse Washes,Dee Estuary andBallynahone Bog. Work is ongoing to address and close these cases.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to mark World Wetlands Day in 2025.

The theme for World Wetlands Day 2025 is ‘Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future’ and Defra plans to mark World Wetlands Day. In 2021 the UK co-sponsored the United Nations Resolution to designate 2 February as World Wetlands Day and we have since undertaken activities or supported other organisations in their activities to celebrate wetlands where appropriate. World Wetlands Day is an important opportunity to reflect on the value of wetlands in supporting biodiversity and delivering other public benefits. This Government is committed to delivering our legally binding biodiversity targets, including to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042. Wetlands will be vital in achieving these.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on taking steps to protect the residents of Mallard Close, Madeley, from the effects of repeated flooding incidents.

To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience, by building, maintaining, and repairing flood defences. The issues in the Mallards Close, Madeley, are related to surface water flooding. The responsible flood authority for surface water flooding is Staffordshire County Council. The Environment Agency is aware they are already responding to this issue and will be happy to support the council where they are able to.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of adopting the guidelines entitled WHO global air quality guidelines: particulate matter (?PM2.5 and PM10)?, ozone, nitrogen diox

The Government is committed to meeting current legal targets for air quality, including the targets recently set under the Environment Act 2021, and will review the policy measures needed to achieve them. We will deliver a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to mandate the display of water efficiency labels for products such as taps and showers; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of accepting the Uni

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. T...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had discussions with domestic manufacturers on complying with dual labelling requirements for water efficiency in the UK and EU; and if he will make an assessment of the

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. T...

Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse has been of developing a new water efficiency labelling scheme; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of exis

On 5 September the Secretary of State reaffirmed the Government’s intention to rollout a Mandatory Water Efficiency Label (MWEL). We will introduce the MWEL in the UK via Secondary Legislation under Section 52 and Schedule 6 of the Environment Act 2021. T...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2024 to Question 1094 on Air Pollution, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a national public awareness campaign on the healt

We recognise the importance of raising awareness of air pollution and associated health impacts. In addition to our commitment to deliver a new Clean Air Strategy, we are undertaking a review of how we communicate air quality information to ensure members...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to meet with representatives of the charity Asthma and Lung UK.

The Secretary of State and the Ministerial team are in the process of meeting a wide range of stakeholders since their appointment to the department.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he last met the leadership of the Rural Payments Agency.

As the Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs with responsibility for the Rural Payments Agency, I met the Chief Executive Officer on 23 July 2024. The Secretary of State also met the Chief Executive Officer on 28 August 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's Environmental Land Management Schemes.

This Government is fully committed to Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and will not be redesigning the schemes from scratch. Record numbers of farmers are now in an ELM scheme, and the Government wants to maintain the momentum that built over recent months. ELM’s design allows for ongoing improvements. The Government recently published a summary of recent changes to SFI actions and scheme information, made in response to feedback from farmers, stakeholder organisations, and other experts. These include specific technical changes to various SFI actions to ensure they are achievable and effective in meeting environmental goals. Looking forward, the Government will optimise ELM schemes in an orderly way, over time. The Government will work with the sector to make sure schemes produce the right outcomes for all farmers, including small, grassland, upland and tenanted farms, supporting food security and nature’s recovery in a just and equitable way. To inform Defra’s work with the sector, the Government will increase the transparency of schemes by publishing data on the impact they are having.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to phase out per-and-polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS); and whether he plans to align with EU regulation standards on PFAS.

The Government is charting a new course to develop an ambitious programme to turn the tide and better protect our natural environment. Recently we announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to deliver on our legally binding targets to save nature. This includes how best to manage chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS. We have already announced plans to restrict firefighting foams and will set out more detail in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Environment Act 2021; and whether he plans to amend it.

The Government is committed to delivering for nature, taking action to meet our Environment Act 2021 targets, to restore and protect our natural world. On 30th July, we launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to make sure it is fit for purpose to deliver our ambitious targets to save nature. This will be followed by the introduction of a new, statutory plan to protect and restore our natural environment, with delivery plans to meet each of our targets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of local authorities ring fencing fly-tipping fines to pay for environmental recovery.

This policy was introduced under the previous government. The department has not yet made any formal assessment on the implications of this policy. Defra supports and encourages local authorities to investigate all incidents of fly-tipping, including those on private land, and make good use of their enforcement powers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what data his Department holds on the number of fines issued to landfill site operators by the Environment Agency for a breach of permit conditions in each of the last ten years.

The Environment Agency is able to take a range of enforcement action against non-compliances by site operators, in line with its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. Some enforcement action may lead to a prosecution resulting in a fine imposed by the court. Over the last ten years there have been 7 prosecutions at landfill sites, totalling £488,200 of fines. These figures relate to prosecutions at landfill sites but are not all directly attributable to site permit holders.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing legislation to extend livestock worrying offences to include roads and paths.

The Government recognises the distress livestock worrying can cause animals and their keepers. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver our commitments in this area and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of chemical regulations.

The Government is committed to protecting human health and the environment. We are currently considering the best approach to chemicals regulation in the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of air pollution on the (a) natural environment in Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency and (b) economy in North Staffordshire.

Air pollution has a significant impact on our economy every year by reducing labour productivity and growth. No specific assessment of air pollution and its impact on the natural environment in Newcastle-under-Lyme has been made recently nor the impact on the economy in North Staffordshire. However, a UK-wide risk assessment of the environmental impacts of the pollutants, ammonia, oxides of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide is made annually. The results are summarised in the Air Pollution Trends Report (see: https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/2401111009_Air_Pollution_Trends_Report_2023.pdf). Specific results for UK designated habitats are viewable on the Air Pollution Information System website (see: https://www.apis.ac.uk/app).

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish all correspondence between the Environment Agency and his Department on the Walleys Quarry Landfill site in each of the last five years.

The Hon Member has requested a significant amount of information. Some of this correspondence may be subject to the conventions regarding access to papers of a previous Administration. Publishing some items of this correspondence could also risk prejudicing ongoing regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to the site. To fully review all of this correspondence would incur disproportionate cost. With this in mind I would like to offer a meeting with the Hon Member to discuss the issues at the site and actions underway.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish all correspondence between his Department and Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council on the Walleys Quarry Landfill site in each of the last five years.

The Hon Member has requested a significant amount of information. Some of this correspondence may be subject to the conventions regarding access to papers of a previous Administration. Publishing some items of this correspondence could also risk prejudicing ongoing regulatory or criminal investigations in relation to the site. To fully review all of this correspondence would incur disproportionate cost. With this in mind I would like to offer a meeting with the Hon Member to discuss the issues at the site and actions underway.