Written questions by Obese-Jecty.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of water companies in the East of England imposing a moratorium on new mains water connections for non-domestic purposes.

It is a water company’s duty to assess water available to meet demand and protect the environment. Water companies do this in their statutory water resources management plans every 5 years. Approximately £6 billion is planned for spending across England between 2025 and 2030 to provide secure, sustainable water resources. In East Anglia this investment includes 2 new reservoirs and a network of pipelines to improve the supply and distribution of water across the region.

Food and Rural Affairs, how the Floods Resilience Task Force will work with stakeholders in Huntingdon constituency.

The Government’s new Floods Resilience Taskforce marks a new approach to preparing for flooding and developing policy. It brings together a range of partners in national, regional and local Government, including the Environment Agency (EA), Devolved Administrations, selected Regional Mayors and Lead Local Flood Authorities. Membership of the Taskforce from national, regional and local partners is flexed to meet the specific agenda and priorities but the Taskforce will also work with a wider range of flood risk partners as needed. The EA also has ongoing engagement with the 12 Flood Liaison Action Groups which operate across the constituency, and it also conducts regular maintenance, inspections, conveyance, and public safety assessments along the River Great Ouse and its tributaries.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the asset condition of flood (a) defences and (b) infrastructure across Cambridgeshire’s middle-level.

Assets in the Middle Level are primarily managed by the Middle Level Commissioners with some managed by the Environment Agency (EA). The 2021 EA’s “Future Fens – Flood Risk Management Project Baseline Report” underscores the importance of these assets across Cambridgeshire Fens. We do not have access to asset condition data for the Middle Level Commissioner’s assets. www.middlelevel.gov.uk The majority of EAs assets are at target condition, on the Low Bank there are 6 out of 66 assets below target condition and to be brought back to target condition. The EA’s Middle Level barrier bank, recently underwent a £44.3m embankment raising project, ensuring it remains in target condition. The Middle Level Commissioners oversee flood risk with a total area of 734km² in size. Specifically for the Middle Level sub-catchment, the Future Fens baseline report has identified approximately £281m would need to be invested in both Environment Agency and Middle Level Commissioner’s assets over the next 100 years to maintain the 2021 level of service. It also estimated that these assets deliver around £10.5bn worth of benefits. The Environment Agency’s Fens2100+ programme, with a £9.8m budget, aims to assess and develop a strategy for future asset management and investment needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of granting a further derogation for the use of (a) Cruiser and (b) other neonicotinoids on sugar-beet crops in 2025.

Pesticides are strictly regulated based on the risks and benefits of use. Decisions on Emergency Authorisation applications for use of neonicotinoids on sugar beet for 2025 will be taken in line with the legal requirements of Regulation 1107/2009 (Article 53) and with full consideration of the available evidence and advice. This Government will change existing policies to ban the use of neonicotinoid pesticides that threaten bees and vital pollinators.