Every parliamentary written question tabled by Bob Blackman this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 24 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to (a) designate and (b) deliver a national water transfer network to enable the movement of water between regions.
Government is committed to a twin track approach to improving water resilience. This involves urgent action to improve water efficiency and reduce water company leaks, alongside investing in new supply infrastructure, including new reservoirs and water tr...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a statutory National Water Security Strategy on meeting projected water demand by 2050.
The Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources estimates a shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 between available supply and expected demand. Government has a statutory target to reduce water use in England per he...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of (a) current demand reduction assumptions in water resource planning and (b) the proportion of projected savings by 2050 not tied to specif
The Environment Agency’s National Framework for Water Resources estimates a shortfall of nearly 5 billion litres of water per day by 2050 between available supply and expected demand. Government has a statutory target to reduce water use in England per he...
Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on Ofwat considering (a) measures to reduce reliance on single sources of water supply and (b) long-term asset health and resilience in future price determinations.
The Government is committed to increasing our water supply while protecting the environment and public health. We are taking a twin track approach to improving water supply resilience. This involves urgent action to reduce water company leaks and use drin...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of placing the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development on a statutory footing with powers to coordina
We have committed to ensuring that the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) continues to coordinate and assure major infrastructure delivery, supporting faster delivery and avoiding duplication before being incorporated ...
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to introduce mandatory water efficiency requirements for (a) data centres and (b) other large non-household users.
In February, Government committed to looking at ways to help drive the uptake of water reuse and rainwater management for large non-household water users including data centres within the Water White Paper. Non-household businesses are encouraged to enqui...
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of current funding levels for the School Milk Subsidy Scheme.
As this is a devolved matter, this answer applies to England only. 48% of eligible schools in England participated in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme in the school year 2024 to 2025. The allocated funding is regularly reviewed to ensure it is sufficient to cover the subsidy likely to be provided to those choosing to access the scheme.
Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to publish a formal consultation on how a transition to in-ovo sexing would be implemented.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Food and Rural Affairs whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Food and Rural Affairs whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to meet with animal welfare organisations to discuss the promotion of responsible cat ownership and sourcing.
The department maintains regular contact with key stakeholders on companion animal welfare issues. This includes the Canine and Feline Sector Group, which brings together leading welfare charities, veterinary bodies, trade associations and representatives from local authorities.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that cats are included in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements the Government aim to achieve by 2030. In the Strategy Defra has committed to take steps to improve the uptake of the pet selling licence by those who sell cats and kittens as pets. The department will also improve its understanding of the size, scale and current management practices related to cat breeding, drawing on expertise from the sector, and consider any further steps which may improve welfare practices in the cat breeding sector. Cats will benefit from broader measures outlined in the Strategy including tackling low welfare imports and implementing the measures contained in the Renters’ Rights Act to make it easier for tenants to keep pets in rented accommodation.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to take steps to prevent British companies from selling hunting trips to British nationals to shoot so-called canned lions for sport and trophies.
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether any cross-departmental work is being undertaken to (a) assess and (b) address the environmental impact of illegally imported disposable vapes.
Single-use vapes have been banned in the UK since 1 June 2025, we are continuing to monitor the impact of the ban, including the illicit market. In March 2025, the Government announced a £10 million funding boost to trading standards to tackle illicit vapes, including those that are single-use, to ensure that the ban is successfully enforced.
Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has to meet with animal welfare organisations to discuss tackling the illegal (a) breeding and (b) sale of hybrid cats.
The Department is kept up to date with developments in cat welfare through regular engagements with key sector organisations.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of banning the cross-breeding of exotic cats with domestic cat breeds.
The Government welcomes the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinion on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices which included their research into the management and welfare of hybrid breeding. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether Monkeys will be included in the government's proposed hunting trophy ban.
Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope for the ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Species of conservation concern are listed primarily on Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) according to the level of threat international trade has on their conservation status. This includes a large number of primate species.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out the scope the proposed ban on trophy hunting imports.
Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope of a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Species of conservation concern are listed on the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) according to the level of threat international trade has on their conservation status.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to introduce an immediate moratorium on import permits for hunting trophies of cheetahs.
The government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies of endangered animals in its manifesto and will deliver on this. Defra is currently engaging with a range of stakeholders in order to decide on the most effective approach.