Written questions by Pinkerton.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to protect (a) swans and (b) pond wildlife in Surrey Heath constituency.

In England all wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, including Swans. This makes it an offence to kill, injure or take wild birds and to take or damage their eggs and nests. Other priority and threatened species, including pond wildlife, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to help tackle the use of catapults by young people to harm pond wildlife in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government takes crimes against wildlife seriously and is aware of the ongoing and horrific misuse of catapults against wildlife. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 protects all wild birds and some wild animals in England and Wales. It is illegal under this Act to deliberately attempt to kill, injure, or harm protected species of wild birds. There are a range of other offences found in further legislation to protect wild animals from cruelty such as the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of crimes under these Acts. While Defra will continue to keep relevant legislation under review, there are sufficient laws in place to protect wildlife from targeted use of catapults and existing powers are already available for the police to tackle their misuse. Defra therefore has no current plans to take further steps to tackle the use of catapults by young people to harm pond wildlife.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure high animal welfare standards in (a) dog and (b) cat rescue organisations in (i) Surrey Heath constituency and (ii) Surrey.

Rescue and rehoming establishments in England must provide for the five basic welfare needs of the animals set out in the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare, may be banned from owning animals. They may also face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison, or both.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of current enforcement measures relating to the online sale of non-native invasive plant species.

While no specific formal assessment has been made relating to the online sale of non-native invasive plant species, the Department prioritises Inspectorate resources towards the greatest areas of risk, including online sales. The Department has assessed the enforcement measures under the Invasive Alien Species (Enforcement and Permitting) Order 2019 as robust and effective. The Non-native Species Inspectorate, established to enforce the Order, has developed structured approaches to monitor and act on online sales, including working with major platforms to remove non-compliant listings. Their work continues to address the risk posed by overseas sellers, strengthen online enforcement and improve compliance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to monitor the online sale of plant species classified as (a) invasive and (b) of special concern by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.

The Department, through the Non-native Species Inspectorate, actively monitors the online sale of invasive and species of special concern. Since 2022, over 1,500 non-compliant listings have been identified, with targeted action resulting in the removal of 272 listings. The Inspectorate has implemented a structured quarterly search strategy and works with major platforms to improve compliance. While enforcement is more challenging for overseas sellers, efforts continue to reduce online risks to biosecurity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve real time monitoring of water quality in (a) rivers and (b) lakes to support safe access for swimmers in Surrey Heath constituency.

There are currently no bathing waters designated by Defra in the Surrey Heath constituency. The Environment Agency undertakes regular monitoring of the water quality in Surrey Heath constituency; the assessment and proposed actions are set out in The Thames River Basin Management Plan. Impacts from wastewater pollution are highlighted as a key pressure resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status. There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years, and these are subject to ongoing Environment Agency investigations. The Environment Agency is currently transforming its regulatory approach including developing a larger specialised workforce and delivering a step change in inspections of Thames Water's permitted sites and associated enforcement. Water company investment of over £10 billion will improve over 2,500 storm overflows, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health. Protected Sites Strategies will also help improve biodiversity in our coastal areas. Where a water body has been officially designated as a bathing water the Environment Agency will carry out regular testing of the water quality at each site, as well as inspecting for the presence of a range of pollutants. Information about water quality at each site is published online via the Swimfo service.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department has taken to support low-income families with water bills in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government expects water companies to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. We are working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported. We welcome the commitment from companies to more than double the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through existing social tariffs – from 4% in 2020-25 to 9% by 2030.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing social tariffs for water bills for (a) low-income households and (b) vulnerable communities in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Government expects water companies to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. We are working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported. We welcome the commitment from companies to more than double the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through existing social tariffs – from 4% in 2020-25 to 9% by 2030.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of sewage discharges on (a) recreational swimming and (b) public access to (i) rivers and (ii) lakes in Surrey Heath constituency.

There are currently no bathing waters designated by Defra in the Surrey Heath constituency. The Environment Agency undertakes regular monitoring of the water quality in Surrey Heath constituency; the assessment and proposed actions are set out in The Thames River Basin Management Plan. Impacts from wastewater pollution are highlighted as a key pressure resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status. There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years, and these are subject to ongoing Environment Agency investigations. The Environment Agency is currently transforming its regulatory approach including developing a larger specialised workforce and delivering a step change in inspections of Thames Water's permitted sites and associated enforcement. Water company investment of over £10 billion will improve over 2,500 storm overflows, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health. Protected Sites Strategies will also help improve biodiversity in our coastal areas. Where a water body has been officially designated as a bathing water the Environment Agency will carry out regular testing of the water quality at each site, as well as inspecting for the presence of a range of pollutants. Information about water quality at each site is published online via the Swimfo service.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) reduce sewage discharges and (b) prevent blue-green algae blooms in designated swimming areas in Surrey Heath constituency.

There are currently no bathing waters designated by Defra in the Surrey Heath constituency. The Environment Agency undertakes regular monitoring of the water quality in Surrey Heath constituency; the assessment and proposed actions are set out in The Thames River Basin Management Plan. Impacts from wastewater pollution are highlighted as a key pressure resulting in many waterbodies not currently achieving good ecological status. There have been significant pollution incidents at Camberley and Chobham Sewage Treatment Works in the last few years, and these are subject to ongoing Environment Agency investigations. The Environment Agency is currently transforming its regulatory approach including developing a larger specialised workforce and delivering a step change in inspections of Thames Water's permitted sites and associated enforcement. Water company investment of over £10 billion will improve over 2,500 storm overflows, targeted at those affecting the most sensitive sites for ecological and human health. Protected Sites Strategies will also help improve biodiversity in our coastal areas. Where a water body has been officially designated as a bathing water the Environment Agency will carry out regular testing of the water quality at each site, as well as inspecting for the presence of a range of pollutants. Information about water quality at each site is published online via the Swimfo service.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in non-badger species in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in non-badger species in Surrey Heath constituency specifically, but the latest ‘Year End Descriptive Epidemiology Report’ from APHA for calendar year 2024, which covers the South East of England (South East of England (Low Risk Area) year end report 2024) states that there were no incidents of TB reported in non-bovine species in 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency.

No assessment has been made of the effectiveness of the badger cull in reducing bovine tuberculosis transmission in Surrey Heath constituency given that badger culling has not taken place within the county of Surrey.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve animal welfare in the egg industry in Surrey Heath constituency.

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.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support community-led biodiversity initiatives in Surrey Heath constituency.

Surrey County Council is the responsible authority for preparing the Surrey Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), which will agree priorities for nature recovery in the area and identify and map the best locations for action to be taken to benefit nature and the wider environment. The Surrey LNRS has recently completed public consultation and is now preparing to be published. Defra is supporting community-led biodiversity initiatives in the Surrey Heath constituency primarily through the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), led by Surrey County Council. Backed by over £250,000 in Defra funding, the LNRS provides a locally tailored framework to identify and prioritise actions for nature recovery, habitat restoration, and species protection. The strategy is being co-developed with input from local communities, landowners, and stakeholders, ensuring that it reflects the unique environmental and social context of Surrey Heath. Defra's Arm's Length Bodies, including Natural England, Environment Agency and Forestry Commission, are actively involved in shaping the LNRS, contributing expertise and aligning national priorities with local delivery. This collaborative approach empowers local action and ensures that biodiversity initiatives are grounded in shared evidence and ambition.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect badger populations in Surrey Heath constituency.

Defra is not taking action specific to Surrey Heath. However, nationally we are taking action to protect badgers. Badger persecution is one of the seven UK wildlife crime priorities. The UK Badger Persecution Priority Delivery Group, of which Defra is a member, recently re-launched its Operation Badger initiative. This aims to increase awareness of criminal activity such as illegal trapping, poisoning, and sett disturbance that threaten badgers and to educate and encourage reporting of suspected crimes against badgers. The Government has also acted quickly to start work on a comprehensive new bovine TB strategy for England, to continue to drive down disease rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and end the badger cull by the end of this Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the capacity of water companies to meet demand arising from new housing developments in Surrey Heath constituency.

Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) are responsible for delivering housing allocations included within their Local Plans, including relevant infrastructure to support growth. Surrey Heath District Council produced a Water Cycle Study (WCS) in March 2025, to provide an evidence base to show the environmental constraints from their proposed housing allocations. This study, reviewed by the Environment Agency, highlighted additional capacity is likely required at two sites across Surrey Heath, Lightwater STW and Camberley STW, to support additional housing without causing deterioration to water quality. This matter has been raised by the Environment Agency as a 'point of soundness' for further consideration by the LPA, within their emerging Surrey Heath Local Plan, and is due to be heard at the Surrey Heath Local Plan examination which begins on 16 September.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with Surrey County Council on flood resilience strategies in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Environment Agency’s flood risk management teams maintain a close working relationship with Surrey County Council, including sitting on the Surrey Flood Risk Partnership Board where they help to shape local flood risk strategies and work with other risk management authorities, including Surrey Heath, to agree priorities that help make local communities more resilient to flooding. The Environment Agency’s local Flood Resilience Team also works with Surrey Prepared, a subgroup of the Surrey Local Resilience Forum that looks at flood resilience across the wider county. Further information is available on their website - Welcome to Surrey Prepared - Surrey County Council.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that unitary authorities have the (a) powers and (b) resources to develop effective strategic flooding plans.

The Flood and Water Management Act 2010 requires lead local flood authorities – which include unitary authorities – to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area. Local authorities receive revenue funding to deliver local services, including local flood risk management, through the Local Government Finance Settlement. For 2025-26 this makes available over £69 billion, a 6.8% cash terms increase on 2024-2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to strengthen flood resilience in Surrey Heath constituency.

The Environment Agency’s flood risk management teams continue to work with partners, providing advice, support and guidance to flood groups and communities in the key flood risk areas in Surrey Heath. This includes Chobham, Pirbright and Normandy. Environment Agency representatives attend biannual flood forum meetings with those communities, providing ongoing support and guidance on flood resilience within the borough. Residents in communities at risk of flooding from rivers can also sign up to the Environment Agency's free Get Flood Warnings service, which sends alerts by phone, text, or email.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with shooting associations in (a) Surrey and (b) the South East on the potential implications of the Health and Safety Executive’s proposed three-year transition to restrict certain rifle ammunition.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the regulatory agency for UK REACH. As required by the UK REACH Regulations, the HSE rather than my Department was responsible for engaging with stakeholders via two public consultations in relation to their proposed UK REACH restriction relating to lead in ammunition.