Written questions by Brewer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support her Department provides to assist farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impacts of (a) synthetic nitrogen fertilisers, (b) pesticides and (c) neonicotinoids; and what steps she is taking in response to those impacts.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the level of risk of wildfires to heathland, woodland and agricultural land in rural constituencies.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that water policy reflects and supports all sectors.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that customers have an adequate role decision-making for the future of the water sector.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to tackle fly-tipping on agricultural and rural land in North East Hampshire; what enforcement powers and resources are available to local authoriti

We encourage local councils to investigate all fly-tipping incidents, including on agricultural/rural land. Councils have powers to take enforcement action. Anyone caught fly-tipping may be prosecuted which can lead to a significant fine, a community sent...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage young people to enter the farming profession; and what financial support and training pathways are available to new entrants to farming

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support the Government is providing to farmers following the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme to ensure they are rewarded for sustainable and environmentally-fr

The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. This is being invested in a range of grants and schemes to support farmers, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the adequacy of current training, support and financial incentives available to farmers to improve animal welfare standards.

In its June 2026 response to the Farming Profitability Review, the Government recognised that training and advice available to farmers can be fragmented and does not always meet the needs of the sector, including in areas relevant to animal husbandry. The...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of changes to agricultural inheritance tax relief on the mental health and wellbeing of farming families in North East H

The Government understands the importance of mental health support and is committed to tackling the mental health crisis in farming communities. This transformation is backed by new staff and protected funding for mental health, with almost 8,000 addition...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the Land Use Framework adequately supports farmers in managing flood risk on agricultural land.

The Land Use Framework supports a movement towards catchment scale prevention, rather than historic piecemeal and reactive approaches. This means that farmers will be rewarded for restoring rivers, peat and woodlands that hold water back in the right plac...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of supermarket pricing practices on farm incomes in North East Hampshire; and what steps the Government is taking to strengthen th

Fairness within the agricultural supply chain is a key priority for the Government. The Government will use powers in the Agriculture Act to introduce ‘Fair Dealings’ Regulations, applying to businesses when purchasing agricultural products from farmers. ...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure mental health support is accessible to farmers in rural areas such as North East Hampshire; and what assessment she has made of the adequa

The Government understands the importance of mental health support and is committed to tackling the mental health crisis in farming communities. This transformation is backed by new staff and protected funding for mental health, with almost 8,000 addition...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure water supplies for (a) residents and (b) local businesses in North East Hampshire constituency following the end of abstraction from Greyw

A water supply deficit exists in part of South East Water’s Water Resource Zone 4, which includes a large portion of the North East Hampshire Constituency. This means there is a higher risk of supply interruptions for customers in drought conditions. Use ...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential long term impact of water abstraction on Greywell fen.

Surveys over 15 years show an ongoing decline of conditions. Continued abstraction risks further degradation and decline of the fen’s condition and its function, processes and integrity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support British farmers to sustain the commitment to manage 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030.

The Government is committed to protecting 30% of land and sea in the UK by 2030 (30by30). Defra is developing a 30by30 Delivery Plan for land and inland water areas, which will set out how it will lead, support, and inspire action across England to delive...

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of ensuring (a) protection for (i) rivers, (ii) chalk streams and (iii) coastal waters, and (b) accountability for polluters in t

The Clean Water Bill forms part of a wider programme of reforms to restore the water environment and improve performance across the sector. The Bill will support action to reduce pollution at source, secure long-term investment in water infrastructure and...

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the transition plan for water regulation.

As set out in the Government’s White Paper, A New Vision for Water, the transition plan for water reform will be published this year. Work is already underway to support transition arrangements, including the appointment of Professor Dame Julia Black as S...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68225, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward further legislative proposals on animal sentience in addition to the provisions of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022; and what steps his Department is considering to help increase animal sentience protections.

The Department published the Animal Welfare Strategy on 22 December 2025. The Strategy sets out the priority issues Government will address, focusing on the changes and improvements it aims to achieve by 2030. The Animal Welfare Strategy will deliver further ambitious improvements for sentient animals, including through legislation where necessary. While the Government has no immediate plans to bring forward additional legislation on animal sentience beyond the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, it will keep the legislative framework under review as the Strategy is delivered and consider further action where appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of providing financial support to homeowners for the treatment or removal of Japanese knotweed; and what consideration her Department has given to the environmental impact of this species.

The treatment or removal of Japanese knotweed is the responsibility of the homeowner and Defra has no plans to offer financial support. Defra has not reviewed its current guidance, as no new evidence has emerged that would make a further review necessary. Existing guidance on preventing spread and treatment — most recently updated in February 2026 — remains in place.