Written questions by MacDonald.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the use of ultra-processed foods through the implementation of the Government Food Strategy.

The food strategy will identify root causes of key problems such as food poverty and unhealthy diets and articulate the outcomes we want from the food system, enabling Government, civil society, and the food industry work to shared goals and priorities. Health is one of our four priority areas. A key outcome will be more easily accessible and affordable, safe, nutritious, healthy food to tackle diet-related ill health, helping to give children the best start in life and help adults live longer healthier lives, including people on low and middle incomes. Delivering the food strategy means changing the way the food system works for the better and replacing the junk food cycle’ identified by Henry Dimbleby with a ‘good food cycle’. The food strategy is aligned with and supports the Government programme, Plan for Change and Missions. The food sector has a crucial role to play in supporting our health Mission by tackling diet-related ill health and addressing poor diets. The government respects individual autonomy in making dietary choices and also wants to encourage food manufacturers to provide nutritious, sustainable food options and empower consumers to make informed decisions about their diets, to deliver better health outcomes for consumers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to enforce existing restrictions on bottom trawling in offshore Marine Protected Areas.

The management and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the UK are devolved matters, and the information provided in this answer therefore relates to England only. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities are responsible for assessing fishing activity in the English MPAs for which they are responsible; for deciding on the management measures are required for those MPAs to meet their conservation objectives; and for enforcing existing restrictions within MPAs. For example, the MMO remotely monitors the movements of all fishing vessels using satellite technology, and incursions into areas of MPAs where fishing activities are restricted are investigated. In addition, MMO’s two offshore patrol vessels and aerial surveillance flights are used to monitor and deter any prohibited activity.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to (a) monitor and (b) report annually on the levels of bottom trawling activity within Marine Protected Areas.

The management and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the UK are devolved matters, and the information provided in this answer therefore relates to England only. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities are responsible for assessing fishing activity in the English MPAs for which they are responsible; for deciding on the management measures are required for those MPAs to meet their conservation objectives; and for enforcing existing restrictions within MPAs. For example, the MMO remotely monitors the movements of all fishing vessels using satellite technology, and incursions into areas of MPAs where fishing activities are restricted are investigated. In addition, MMO’s two offshore patrol vessels and aerial surveillance flights are used to monitor and deter any prohibited activity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of existing regulations on bottom towed fishing gear within Marine Protected Areas in protecting seabed habitats.

The management and enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across the UK are devolved matters, and the information provided in this answer therefore relates to England only. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities are responsible for assessing fishing activity in the English MPAs for which they are responsible; for deciding on the management measures are required for those MPAs to meet their conservation objectives; and for enforcing existing restrictions within MPAs. For example, the MMO remotely monitors the movements of all fishing vessels using satellite technology, and incursions into areas of MPAs where fishing activities are restricted are investigated. In addition, MMO’s two offshore patrol vessels and aerial surveillance flights are used to monitor and deter any prohibited activity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the total area in square kilometres is of Marine Protected Areas in UK waters on which bottom trawling is allowed.

The management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Marine Management Organisation and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities individually assess fishing activity in the MPAs they are responsible for and decide what management measures are required for the MPAs to meet their conservation objectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with stakeholders on his Department's plans to introduce whole site bans on bottom-towed fishing gear in Marine Protected Areas.

The Marine Management Organisation and the ten Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities assess fishing activity in the English MPAs they are responsible for and decide what management measures are required for the MPAs to meet their conservation objectives. Sometimes these management measures will involve a ban across the whole site, where the features to be protected cover the whole site. Potential fishing restrictions in MPAs can be discussed with stakeholders during site designation processes and then again when management measures might need to be introduced, including through calls for evidence and formal public consultations such as the one recently announced.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage UK companies to reduce levels of deforestation caused by overseas supply chains.

We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking ahead of COP30 to strengthen legislation aimed at preventing UK companies from contributing to deforestation.

We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course. We are committed to ensuring that any regulatory framework is robust, proportionate and effective in addressing deforestation in UK supply chains.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with relevant stakeholders on levels of sustainability of the capercaillie population.

Capercaillie are native to Scotland. As nature conservation is a devolved issue the sustainability of the capercaillie population is a matter for the Scottish Government.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help farmers protect livestock from predation.

There are various lethal and non-lethal approaches available to farmers to help them protect their livestock from predation. Under the Environmental Land Management standalone Capital Grants scheme, the item ‘FG1: Fencing’ primarily provides funding for farmers to install fencing to control livestock and protect environmental features but it can help to protect livestock from predators. Defra announced in February that the scheme will re-open in summer 2025 and we will confirm the precise date in due course. While some predators such as wild birds of prey are afforded legal protection in England, a farmer, as an authorised person, may carry out activities to prevent serious damage to livestock from listed species of corvids under Defra’s general licence 42 (GL42: general licence to kill or take certain species of wild birds to prevent serious damage - GOV.UK). Farmers are also free to lethally control certain mammalian predators such as fox and weasel to protect their livestock, providing they comply with animal welfare legislation. Aside from wild predators, the Government is supporting a Private Members’ Bill introduced by the hon. Member for Chester South and Eddisbury which will introduce new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on support for farmers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency.

Defra and the other UK nations work closely together through the consensus-based and well-established governance arrangements we have set up and operate under the Agricultural Support Framework. The regular meetings established under this Framework provide an opportunity for Defra and Scottish Government officials to meet regularly and discuss emerging issues, share good practice, and proactively discuss and coordinate policy innovation. No specific points regarding support for farmers in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency have been raised in these forums. It is for the devolved governments to allocate their funding in devolved areas as they see fit and they are accountable to their respective legislatures for their decisions. This is a key principle of devolution, and we are respecting that.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential risks to pets from ingesting antifreeze products.

The RSPCA and Cats Protection offer advice on how to keep pets safe from accidental poisoning and what to do if someone suspects their pet may have been poisoned. The intentional poisoning of a protected animal is a criminal offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 increased the maximum sentence to five years imprisonment and/or unlimited fine for animal cruelty offences, including administering a poison to animal.