Written questions by Snowden.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of air pollution in (a) Fylde and (b) other semi-rural areas; and what steps his Department is taking to help mitigate the impact of air pollution on public health.

Local authorities review and assess air quality in their areas and publish an annual report on their actions to improve local air quality including local monitoring data which is assessed by Defra. Fylde council have reported continued compliance with the Air Quality Objectives set by central Government and have an Air Quality Strategy in place aimed at further reducing pollution from key sources. Defra supports local authorities through the provision of clear detailed statutory guidance and a helpline provided via contractors. We also host the Air Quality Hub; a resource and knowledge-sharing platform for local authorities. The Government will publish a revised Environmental Improvement Plan, to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery information to help meet the ambitious Environment Act targets.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55351 on Environmental Stewardship Scheme: Fylde, how many Higher Level Stewardship agreements exist in total.

As of the 11 June 2025 the Rural Payments Agency can confirm there is currently a total of 5,471 Higher-Level Stewardship related Environmental Stewardship agreements.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 55351 on Environmental Stewardship Scheme: Fylde, whether any of the Higher Level Stewardship agreements fall within the county of Lancashire.

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 9 June 2025, PQ 55343.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54984 to Government Departments: Catering, what steps he is taking to provide (a) specific support schemes and (b) funding opportunities to farmers in Fylde and Lancashire to help them meet procurement standards.

Our commitment to farmers and growers remains steadfast, which is why we want our farmers to have the chance to get a fair share of the £5 billion pounds a year spent on public-sector food and catering contracts, including for farmers in Fylde and Lancashire.

Food and Rural Affairs, what metrics his Department uses to assess the effectiveness of routine avian influenza surveillance systems in detecting early outbreaks of H5N1.

Our avian influenza surveillance programmes are line with international standards of best practice and requirements for disease surveillance set out by the World Organisation for Animal Health’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code. In addition to our statutory obligations set out in The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 (as amended). Our avian influenza surveillance is comprised of mandatory reporting of suspicion of avian influenza in kept birds and mammals, targeted avian influenza and testing of found dead wild birds and wild mammals. In addition, targeted serological surveillance for avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry is carried out annually in Great Britain by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as required by The Avian Influenza and Influenza of Avian Origin in Mammals (England) (No.2) Order 2006 and in line with the sampling guidance in assimilated legislation 2010/367. The serological surveillance is a risk-based, targeted programme which aims to detect low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) in gallinaceous birds (chickens, turkeys, game birds) which could mutate into high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and HPAI and LPAI in domestic waterfowl which generally don’t show clinical signs of avian influenza. Sampling is required to be undertaken where the prevalence of infected poultry holdings is at least 5% with a 95% confidence interval.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help improve communication with (a) bird keepers and (b) the public during avian influenza outbreaks.

Supporting bird keepers, the public and conservation bodies to manage and prepare for avian influenza continues to be one of Defra’s main priorities. Defra and the Devolved Governments have several lines of communication to bird keepers and the public. Each administration has a live avian influenza page which is updated regularly with the most recent information. Biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklist have also been published by each of the UK administrations to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity, including mandatory measures when an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is in force. We also issue national, local and trade press releases to make sure the latest information is communicated through the media. We regularly post the latest advice, key messages, and situational updates on both Defra and APHA social media channels. Through our work with a wide range of industry groups, this vital information is also distributed out to their members. All bird keepers in Great Britain must now register their poultry and other captive birds (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines), even if only kept as pets. Registered keepers will receive regular updates and guidance to help protect their birds from avian influenza. The new registration requirements which came into force in Autumn 2024 will enable Government to communicate with bird keepers quickly, to mitigate the risk of further disease spread. In addition, anyone can subscribe to the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) free animal disease alerts service for the latest information on updated risk levels, guidance and new cases in Great Britain regardless of whether they keep birds. Any bird keepers whose premises are directly affected by avian influenza will receive support from the APHA, including compensation for any healthy birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes. In addition, a range of grants have been made available to poultry keepers through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to improve biosecurity on poultry premises and support the welfare of birds.There are numerous support networks that poultry farmers can contact for help including the rural services helpline. Defra work in partnership with Farming Help organisations to support their work to help the farming community through challenging times.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to provide (a) support and (b) resources for (i) small-scale and (ii) backyard bird keepers to help ensure their compliance with avian influenza surveillance and biosecurity measures.

Supporting bird keepers, the public and conservation bodies to manage and prepare for avian influenza continues to be one of Defra’s main priorities. Defra and the Devolved Governments have several lines of communication to bird keepers and the public. Each administration has a live avian influenza page which is updated regularly with the most recent information. Biosecurity guidance and a biosecurity self-assessment checklist have also been published by each of the UK administrations to assist all bird keepers in instigating and maintaining good biosecurity, including mandatory measures when an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) is in force. We also issue national, local and trade press releases to make sure the latest information is communicated through the media. We regularly post the latest advice, key messages, and situational updates on both Defra and APHA social media channels. Through our work with a wide range of industry groups, this vital information is also distributed out to their members. All bird keepers in Great Britain must now register their poultry and other captive birds (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines), even if only kept as pets. Registered keepers will receive regular updates and guidance to help protect their birds from avian influenza. The new registration requirements which came into force in Autumn 2024 will enable Government to communicate with bird keepers quickly, to mitigate the risk of further disease spread. In addition, anyone can subscribe to the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) free animal disease alerts service for the latest information on updated risk levels, guidance and new cases in Great Britain regardless of whether they keep birds. Any bird keepers whose premises are directly affected by avian influenza will receive support from the APHA, including compensation for any healthy birds culled by HM Government for disease control purposes. In addition, a range of grants have been made available to poultry keepers through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to improve biosecurity on poultry premises and support the welfare of birds.There are numerous support networks that poultry farmers can contact for help including the rural services helpline. Defra work in partnership with Farming Help organisations to support their work to help the farming community through challenging times.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54984 to Government Departments: Catering, whether he has made an assessment of the merits of (a) an annual report and (b) a public tracking system to provide transparency on how much local produce is being procured from (i) Lancashire and (ii) other regions by public sector bodies.

The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. This could include approaches designed to improve transparency in the way procurement is carried out.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, whether his Department has provided discretionary financial assistance to poultry producers indirectly affected by avian influenza control measures in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, whether his Department has modelled the potential impact of a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire on the economy.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer 5 June 2025 to Question 56531 on Avian Influenza: Lancashire, what steps his Department is taking to help support poultry producers in areas at risk of avian influenza outbreaks that have no confirmed cases.

This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. Whilst the economic impact of an outbreak of avian influenza on Flyde and Lancashire has not been specifically assessed at the regional level, the impacts of a reasonable worst-case scenario outbreak of avian influenza were assessed for the National Risk Register published on gov.uk in 2025. These national risks are reviewed on a regular basis, taking into account new developments. In addition, the joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce has committed to publishing a full report on vaccination strategies in the UK this summer; this will include economic assessments from previous outbreaks, including the 2022 outbreak. Compensation paid for birds culled by the Government for disease control purposes is designed to promote prompt reporting of suspicion of disease and is only payable for healthy birds as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control or measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. However, to support improvements and resilience in the poultry sector laying hen housing for health and welfare grants have been made available to poultry keepers in England through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Any commercial egg producer or pullet rearer, who is a registered keeper of 1000 or more birds are eligible to apply for these grants.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support has been provided to farmers in Fylde constituency under Environmental Land Management schemes since January 2024.

The Government is providing a record level of funding for the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes as part of the £5 billion it has secured over the 24/25 and 25/26 financial years for farmers across England, including Fylde. Since 1 January 2024, the Rural Payments Agency has issued payments totalling £2,277,556 to farmers in the Fylde constituency under the ELM schemes.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, what the projected allocation of the £5 billion farming budget is for farmers in Lancashire between 2024 and 2026.

The farming budget is not ring fenced according to area but will depend on which schemes and grants farmers have agreements for and/or apply for.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, what steps his Department plans to take to help ensure that the re-opening of capital grants in summer 2025 is (a) accessible and (b) equitable to (i) smaller farms and (ii) new entrants.

Defra will introduce maximum grant thresholds for 4 groups of capital items in the standalone capital offer, from summer 2025. The limits will be: £25,000 for items in the water quality, air quality, and natural flood management groups£35,000 for the group including boundary, tree and orchard items These limits increase funding availability for smaller applications. All farmers/land managers are able to apply for the funding later in the Summer of 2025, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria which will be set out in the guidance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support businesses affected by the drought announced on 29 May 2025.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. Defra requires water companies to have robust plans to manage droughts and protect customer supplies. This includes early actions such as enhanced leakage management, appropriate balancing of supplies, and effective communications to enable customers to use water wisely.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, which (a) stakeholder groups and (b) representative farming organisations his Department has consulted on the development of the future Sustainable Farming Incentive offer.

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders, including the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, the Tenant Farmers Association, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, the Agricultural Industries Confederation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, National Trust and the Green Alliance and a further group of 30 industry stakeholders, to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced later in the summer.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, when his Department plans to publish detailed (a) eligibility criteria and (b) payment rates for the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive offer following the 2025 spending review.

We expect to publish more information about the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive offer in summer 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54446 on Environmental Land Management Schemes: Lancashire, how much and what proportion of the £5 billion of funding in the farming budget will be allocated to support for farmers in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire in the next two years.

The budget for 2025/26 is £2.4 billion. Spending on farming in future financial years will be confirmed as part of the government’s spending review. The farming budget is not ring fenced according to area but will depend on which schemes and grants farmers have agreements for and/or apply for.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support households impacted by drought.

Defra requires water companies to have robust plans to manage droughts and protect customer supplies. This includes early actions such as enhanced leakage management, appropriate balancing of supplies, and effective communications to enable customers to use water wisely. In the event of temporary use bans, known as hosepipe bans, being required, Defra expect water companies to protect vulnerable customers and include exceptions for certain customers groups including those on the priority services register or blue badge holders. Water companies must set out exceptions in their drought plans and should demonstrate how they will balance the need for water savings against adverse effects on customers. Defra and the Environment Agency (EA) check water companies follow these plans appropriately when activated. Water companies must undertake an annual drought health check. During the current drier conditions, more frequent reporting is required, including through the national drought group and sub-groups convened by Defra and the EA. This helps drive active monitoring and early action to protect households from drought risks. Defra requires water companies, through water resources management plans, to increase drought resilience and ensure resilience to 1 in 500 year drought events by 2040 without the need for emergency drought orders, including standpipes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans his Department has should drought conditions (a) persist and (b) worsen.

Water companies must show how they provide a secure supply of water to their customers and protect the environment during dry weather and droughts through their statutory drought plans. A drought plan is an operational plan that sets out what actions a water company will take as a drought worsens.Both Defra and the Environment Agency operate an incident response structure that they use to manage a drought.Emergency measures such as the need for water restrictions through standpipes and rota cuts are included in water companies’ emergency plans. Local authorities take a lead role in local resilience.