Written questions by Brandreth.

Whether her Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements for each project in the Government Major Projects Portfolio.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has conducted an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the Clean Energy Industries Industrial Strategy Sector Plan.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the NHS Productivity Plan.

Awaiting answer.

Whether his Department has undertaken an analysis of the mobile connectivity and 5G network infrastructure requirements of the eight sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of civil service personnel work on farming matters and on environmental matters.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department is taking to meet the deadline set by the Patient Safety Commissioner for the Government to set out its position on a compensation scheme for people harmed by pelvic mesh

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, when the response to the consultation on the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 will be published.

Defra’s consultation on reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 ran from 28 January to 25 March 2026 and received over 6,000 responses. Additionally, on 24 March 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its final report on its market...

Food and Rural Affairs, on which dates ministers have met the National Pig Association for a bilateral meeting since September 2025.

While Ministers have not met the National Pig Association directly for a bilateral meeting since September 2025, Ministers have met the National Pig Association as part of wider engagement with the farming industry.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on fertiliser costs for farmers from 1 January 2027 and what plans she has to delay or repeal it

The Government remains committed to implementing the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) from 1 January 2027. CBAM will apply to imported goods from the fertiliser sector, and the rate charged will reflect the final carbon price paid by domestic ...

What steps he is taking to support the creation of jobs for young people.

Building on the December Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement, the Government recently committed a further £1 billion investment in young people, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of adding blister packs to the list of waste that must be collected by waste collectors; and what consideration she has made of the potential merits of amending recycling policy to include blister packs in kerbside collection.

Following support at public consultation, the Environment Act 2021 introduced new requirements for all local authorities in England to make arrangements for a core set of materials to be collected for recycling from all households: paper and card; plastic; glass; metal; food waste and garden waste. In 2021 we consulted on the detail of this policy, including implementation dates and materials in scope of collection. Blister packs are difficult to recycle owing to the mix of different materials they are made from and, as such, tend not to be collected through kerbside recycling services. Take-back recycling schemes, such as the Terracycle scheme, can accept more complex packaging materials at dedicated recycling facilities. Where blister packs are separately collected by producers through takeback schemes and then recycled at the producer’s cost, producers would not need to pay packaging Extended Producer Responsibility fees on the tonnage recycled.

Food and Rural Affairs, what were the ten largest flood defence schemes by capital value included within the 151 schemes delivered in the Government’s first year, and when each of those schemes commenced.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a full list of the 151 flood defence schemes cited as delivered in the Government’s first year, including scheme name, location, start date, completion date and capital cost.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a breakdown of the 151 flood defence schemes by project type, including major capital schemes, medium-scale works and minor works such as maintenance, refurbishment or restoration of existing assets.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Environment Agency has made of the proportion of the 151 flood defence schemes that were already in construction or procurement prior to July 2024.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the 151 flood defence schemes which her Department has stated were delivered in its first year (a) were started before July 2024 and (b) were started after July 2024.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the 151 flood defence schemes completed in the Government’s first year, what criteria her Department uses to determine whether schemes have been delivered.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the 151 flood defence schemes were classified by the Environment Agency as minor works, including repairs or upgrades to existing assets such as sluice gates, pumping stations or embankments.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.

Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of the total capital funding allocated to the 151 flood defence schemes was spent on schemes which commenced before July 2024.

During 24/25 and 25/26, this Government has invested a record £2.65 billion in new flood defences with at least 52,000 properties set to be better protected by March 2026. Between July 2024 and July 2025, this investment funded work to complete 151 flood schemes. A scheme is considered complete when the flood asset will better protect properties from flooding. The completion of the 151 schemes during this period means more than 24,000 homes and businesses are now better protected. Of the 151 schemes, 70 were newly constructed flood defences, 58 were significant capital refurbishment/replacement of existing older assets (to either extend the life of the asset or increase the standard of protection it provides) and 23 delivered flood resilience measures to properties. The 151 schemes include projects in all regions of England. Further details of flood schemes invested in by the Government since 2024 can be found on gov.uk and a list of projects to be funded in 26/27 will be published in March. Delivering on the Plan for Change, this Government is investing at least £10.5 billion in our flood defences until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history – a record investment that is projected to benefit nearly 900,000 properties.