Written questions by Snowden.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish annual updates of regional waste crime heatmaps produced by the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency have had a positive response to their recent article that included regional waste crime heatmaps and have committed to publishing future updates.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, what steps his Department plans to take to evaluate the effectiveness of measures to deter waste crime.

The Resources and Waste Policy Programme Evaluation is running to 2027 and is designed to help Defra understand what has and has not been successful about the design and delivery of objectives and commitments within the policy programme, including waste crime. Link to Impact Evaluation Baseline Report.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 50256 on Farms: Lancashire, whether his Department plans to consult (a) farmers and (b) industry stakeholders on the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive before announcing further details.

Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to monitor Higher Level Stewardship payments to ensure they deliver (a) measurable environmental benefits and (b) value for money in (i) rural communities and (ii) Fylde constituency.

Extensions to Higher Level Stewardships (HLS) agreements have been offered to all based on meeting specific eligibility requirements and an assessment that the current agreement continues to meet its expected environmental outcomes. This provides value for money and delivers environmental benefits in rural communities. No HLS agreements fall within the Flyde constituency.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether farmers currently on expiring Higher Level Stewardship agreements will be eligible for the new payment rates if they (a) renew and (b) transition to Environmental Land Management schemes.

Farmers whose Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement expired in 2024 and that expire in 2025 have been offered an extension to their agreement. If they accept this extension, then they will benefit from the increases in the HLS rates. An individual's payments increase will depend on the options in their agreement. Most HLS agreements will naturally expire in 2028. We are reviewing our approach to transitioning farmers from existing agreements into new schemes. Where a farmer makes a new application, they will be entitled to the rates applicable to the scheme they choose as payment rates are set according to the scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to allocate additional funding to the Environment Agency to support the enforcement of waste crime legislation.

Defra works closely with the Environment Agency to ensure it is equipped to carry out its functions effectively and deliver for the public and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions have been brought against waste operators in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire since July 2024; and how many resulted in custodial sentences.

The Environment Agency (EA) has brought prosecutions against six waste operators in Lancashire since July 2024. In one of these cases, illegal activity at a site in Fylde was part of the case. None of these prosecutions resulted in custodial sentences. This information only relates to action taken by the EA.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help increase the reporting of waste crime in rural communities.

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions to Defra, which are published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england, this data excludes the majority of private-land incidents. We continue to work with stakeholders, such as the National Farmers Union and local authorities, through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group to share good practice, including how to prevent fly-tipping on private land. Suspected illegal waste activity can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers through their dedicated website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously or by calling 0800 555 111. Alternatively, the Environment Agency’s 24-hour incident hotline is available on 0800 80 70 60 and fly-tipping can be reported here https://www.gov.uk/report-flytipping.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2025 to Question 38171 on Farmers: Lancashire, how much and what proportion of the Farming Recovery Fund has been allocated to support the mental health and wellbeing of farmers in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

The Farming Recovery Fund provided a recovery payment for farmers who have suffered uninsurable damage from notably high main river flooding following Storms Babet and Henk or fall within an area which we have determined to be in receipt of exceptionally high rainfall during October 2023 to March 2024. Lancashire did not fall into an eligible area.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 50256 on Farms: Lancashire, what the start date of the new Higher Tier scheme will be; and how farmers can apply.

Defra will open the rolling application window for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) later in the year. Currently, CSHT is by invitation only following contact by Natural England or the Forestry Commission. This ensures that bespoke pre-application advice is provided to support those invited. We have published information that sets out what you can do now to prepare to apply for CSHT on GOV.UK. (Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier: preview guidance - GOV.UK).

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 50256 on Farms: Lancashire, what measures his Department plans to introduce in the next phase of the Landscape Recovery programme; and how these measures will support farmers in (a) Fylde and (b) Lancashire.

As a core element of the Environmental Land Management schemes, Landscape Recovery is uniquely placed to provide large-scale, long-term benefits for nature, delivering improvements to biodiversity, carbon emissions, water quality, air quality, flood resilience and food security.We have been gathering feedback and evaluating how the Landscape Recovery scheme is working, including from those projects in development near to and within the Fylde and Lancashire areas – namely the Brock & Calder Landscape Recovery Project and The West Pennines More Nature Partnership.Landscape Recovery projects that were awarded funding in rounds one and two are continuing, and projects in the first round are moving into the delivery phase.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers are (a) enrolled in the Higher Level Stewardship scheme and (b) expected to receive an uplift in payments from January 2025 in (i) Lancashire and (ii) Fylde constituency.

I can confirm that there are 164 live Higher Level Stewardship-related agreements that fall within the Lancashire County that should receive an uplift. This figure is spread across 16 constituencies in Lancashire and includes constituencies (Morecambe and Lunesdale & Southport) that are spread across county lines. None fall within the Fylde constituency.

Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria were used to select the four charities providing health and wellbeing support under the Farmer Welfare Grant; and whether he plans to increase (a) the number of charities and (b) the geographic coverage.

Applicants for the Farmer Welfare Grant in 2024 were required to submit their proposals following a set pro-forma. Each applicant had to demonstrate the project’s suitability and feasibility, outline the key beneficiaries and outputs, explain their approach to monitoring and evaluation, outline their costs, and explain the projects’ value for money. Grant recipients operate in Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire Rural Support Network), and across Cumbria, Durham, Lancashire, Northumberland, and Yorkshire (The Farmer Network, Field Nurse, UTASS, and the Yorkshire Agricultural Society). We will be evaluating the existing Welfare Grant.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission research on the effectiveness of the Farmer Welfare Grant (a) overall and (b) in improving mental health outcomes for farmers.

Defra routinely assesses the effectiveness of all grants and funds it finances. Recipients of the Farmer Welfare Grant are required to submit interim reports in line with their funding agreements, as well as final reports upon completion of the grant. Defra undertakes a range of in-house evaluation and is researching the overall effectiveness of this grant by reviewing recipient’s interim reports. We use a range of mechanisms, including feedback from farming welfare charities, to monitor the mental health outcomes of farming communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on long-term strategies for mental health support in agriculture beyond the period that funding has been allocated for current policies.

The physical and mental wellbeing of farmers, farm workers and their families underpins our food system and food security. We will work to improve mental and physical health outcomes for the agricultural community to ensure Defra’s wider strategic plans for the farming sector are deliverable and sustainable.Defra’s is working in consultation with communities, farming support organisations and experts across government with the aim of improving mental and physical health outcomes for the agricultural community. Delivery of mental health interventions sits with the Department for Health and Social Care, who are investing in mental health to ensure it receives the same attention as physical health. This includes the hiring of 8,500 new mental health support workers, which will reduce delays and provide faster treatment closer to people’s homes – including in rural communities. The Government is also building a national network of Young Futures hubs, which will be present in every community and will deliver support for young people facing mental health challenges.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to consult with (a) farmers and (b) agricultural stakeholders from Fylde constituency in advance of the implementation of the new Higher Level Stewardship payment rates.

There are no live Higher Level Stewardship (HLS agreements in the Fylde constituency. HLS payment rates have stayed the same for more than 10 years. In that time, they have fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes, including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) and the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). On that basis we have taken the opportunity to reduce the difference by investing £30 million to increase payment rates so farmers in HLS agreements can continue to restore habitats, support rare species, preserve historic features and maintain traditional landscape features in our iconic countryside. We consulted with national stakeholders including the NFU, CLA and TFA in advance of making these changes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers to transition to sustainable agricultural practices through the Environmental Land Management schemes in (a) Fylde constituency and (b) Lancashire.

At February’s NFU Conference, the Secretary of State announced a raft of new policies to put money in the pockets of farmers in Fylde, Lancashire, and across the country. We remain committed to investing £5 billion of funding in the farming budget over two years and are on track to do so. We will be working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced following the spending review in summer 2025. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome; and we are making £110 million available for new grant competitions to support research and innovation, technology and equipment for farmers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent funding he has provided to local authorities in Fylde constituency to help tackle (a) water pollution and (b) storm overflows into the Ribble Estuary.

Water and sewerage companies are responsible for the maintenance of storm overflows and other assets. The Water (Special Measures) Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry and the Independent Water Commission will make recommendations to shape and transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025 to 2030, Ofwat are allowing United Utilities £2.5 billion to reduce the use of storm overflows by at least 33%. During this period, UU will be improving eight storm overflows in the Fylde constituency to reduce how often they discharge, in order to improve both river and coastal water quality. Monitoring investigations are being undertaken in the Ribble catchment to inform future actions to improve bathing water quality at designated bathing waters on the River Ribble and Fylde coast, including St Annes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) flood resilience and (b) coastal erosion defences along the Fylde coast.

The Environment Agency regularly provides information to community emergency response and flood action groups within Fylde. Coastal communities have been identified as a priority and are included in the Environment Agency’s engagement planning strategy. The Shoreline Management plans set out a planned approach to manage the flood and coastal erosion risk. The Environment Agency is working with partners on the ‘Our Future Coast’ project to design and test new approaches to coastal flood risk management. The Fylde coast is currently protected by several coastal flood defences from Blackpool to Warton. The Environment Agency is working with the Local Authorities to identify funding streams and opportunities for future schemes along this coastline to further enhance existing defences. An example of this includes the Fylde Sand Dune project.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to consult businesses affected by the extended producer responsibility scheme.

We consulted on the principles, objectives, and proposals for extended producer responsibility in 2019 and 2021, and these received high levels of support. We then consulted on the draft regulations in 2023. To ensure producers are prepared for the implementation EPR we engage widely though our monthly Business Readiness Forum, alongside events on specific topics and our regular newsletter goes to over 11,000 subscribers which contains updates and information on the requirement of the scheme. We also work with the Environment Agency and their programme of work which further supports business. This has included extensive engagement on pEPR disposal fees and the Recyclability Assessment Model. We are also actively listening to the sectors concerns and have recently announced further engagement with the sector to improve specific aspects of the scheme such, such as dual use packaging, the packaging recycling note system, and driving increased efficiency and effectiveness in local authority delivery.