Written questions by Anderson.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of water resilience in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency in the context of climate change projections.

Anglian Water, as the water and wastewater provider for Milton Keynes and Buckingham, has the responsibility to assess the adequacy of water resilience in the context of climate change. Anglian Water’s water resources management plan 2024 (WRMP24) evaluates the risk and possible impact of climate change and sets out likely implications for water supplies. Anglian Water has conducted a detailed assessment of climate change for each water resource zone (WRZ) in its area. The outcome of the assessment has been incorporated into Anglian Water’s WRMP24 forecasts and options are included to meet supply deficits caused by the impacts of climate change. Anglian Water’s WRMP24 was reviewed by the Environment Agency and was published in September 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to enforce compliance with proposed stormwater management measures in Buckinghamshire.

The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible for ensuring compliance. The EA has strengthened regulation of the water industry through new dedicated regulation and enforcement teams. Its Thames and East Anglia Areas have completed over 2,400 inspections since April 2025. The EA has visited 7 Anglian Water assets since April and has followed up on the two minor non-compliances identified. It is planning to visit a further 13 Anglian Water assets in the Buckingham and Brackley area before the end of March 2026. Stewkley Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and Quainton Sewage Pumping Station, both operated by Thames Water Utilities Limited, were inspected in May 2025 and January 2026, respectively. No major compliance issues were identified, and the operator agreed actions to resolve minor non-compliances found. Stewkley STW is a high-spilling storm overflow site: measures are in place to investigate and reduce spill frequency under the Water Industry National Environment Programme (PR24) during AMP8 (2025-2030).

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department will take to improve market transparency for input price indices for farmers.

Defra publishes price indices for key farming inputs such as animal feed and fertilisers in the monthly Agricultural Price Indices release, as well as annual analysis of trends in price indices in Chapter 6: Prices of Agriculture in the UK. The indices rely on a broad range of cross-government and industry data sources, which are regularly reviewed to ensure the estimates are based on the best available data.

Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis her Department has made of the potential relationship between environmental regulation costs and farm profitability.

Farm incomes and profitability are largely impacted by factors such as the weather, input costs and prices. The costs of regulatory compliance have a smaller effect. However, we recognise Government should try to minimise the costs of regulatory compliance. Following the recent Corry and Batters review reports, we are considering recommendations made in both reports in relation to regulation impacting farming and we are continuing a programme of improvement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of planning rule changes on on-farm infrastructure delivery.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has worked with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to consider how changes to the National Planning Policy Framework can support various types of agricultural and rural business development and infrastructure. Government is currently consulting on these changes. National Planning Policy Framework: proposed reforms and other changes to the planning system - GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, what data her Department holds on farmer-reported barriers to accessing private finance.

The Government regularly and actively engages with farmers to listen to their views and understand their concerns, including barriers to accessing private finance, and take their feedback into account. Defra has built up a good understanding of the main issues through our farming programmes, our investment readiness support, and evaluations. The recently published Review of Farming Productivity by Baroness Minette Batters has also provided us with additional insights and recommendations on how to unlock finance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what work has been done to identify geographic disparities in farm profitability.

Data on Farm Business Income (output generated by the farm business minus total farm costs, essentially net profit) is published annually at regional level. While this shows geographic differences in farm profitability, it is also heavily influenced by the variation in the predominant type of farming in different parts of the country. The survey covers farm businesses in England with a Standard Output of more than £21,000. Whilst it captures the majority of agricultural activity, it excludes smaller businesses (which account for 2% of output). The table below shows average Farm Business Income, in real terms, by region for 2023/24. These data will shortly be backdated to a new methodology introduced in 2024/25. Data for 2024/25 along with revised 2023/24 figures will be published on the 22nd of January in Farm Accounts in England. Average Farm Business Income in real terms (£ per farm) by region, England 2023/24: £ per farmYorkshire and The Humber52,200North East67,900North West51,600East Midlands32,300West Midlands57,700East67,000South East and London35,100South West36,100England47,900 Source: Farm Business Survey data dashboard Farm Business Survey dashboard.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to evaluate the effectiveness of trade missions dedicated to British agriculture.

This Government is supporting British food and farming’s untapped global potential through new trade agreements, including with India, and progressing negotiations with the EU on an SPS Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier. In 2025 our global network of agri-food attachés resolved further export barriers which industry estimate are worth over £125 million. Recent successes include securing market access for dairy to Egypt, worth £35 million per year, and pork exports to Mexico, worth £3.8 million per year. Dedicated trade missions support this work, helping farmers and growers get British produce into new markets overseas and unlocking export barriers.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential role of export market access in improving farm profitability since 2021.

This Government is supporting British food and farming’s untapped global export potential through new trade agreements, including with India, and progressing negotiations with the EU on an SPS Agreement to make agrifood trade with our biggest market cheaper and easier. In 2025 our global network of agri-food attachés resolved further export barriers which industry estimate are worth over £125 million. Recent successes include securing market access for dairy to Egypt, worth £35 million per year, and pork exports to Mexico, worth £3.8 million per year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department will use to evaluate the effectiveness of the Farming and Food Partnership Board.

The department is setting up a Farming and Food Partnership Board (FFPB) which will bring together voices from farming, food, retail and finance to drive profitability, support British produce and remove barriers to investment. The Board will bring together voices from the farming, food, retail and finance sectors to drive profitability, support homegrown British produce and remove barriers to investment. More information on the composition and operation of the FFPB will be set out in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential fiscal impact of enhanced farm support measures on the public finances.

The Government is committed to supporting British farmers and the vital role they play. We have allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. We’re targeting public money where it delivers most value – supporting nature, because all farms need healthy soils, abundant pollinators, and clean water to produce good food. We will continue to invest in our farmers and land managers to make their businesses, food production and our country more sustainable and resilient through Environmental Land Management schemes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what analysis has been undertaken of the relative profitability trends in the (i) arable and (ii) livestock sectors since 2020.

Defra’s Farm Business Survey collects information on average Farm Business Income (the output generated by the farm business minus total farm costs, essentially net profit). The survey covers farm businesses in England with a Standard Output of more than £21,000. Whilst it captures the majority of agricultural activity, it excludes smaller businesses (which account for 2% of output). Table 1 of the Farm Business Income dataset shows average Farm Business Income, at current prices and in real terms, by type of farm (arable and livestock) for 2004/05 to 2024/25: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/691d8c2fd140bbbaa59a29e5/fbs_farmbusinesincome_timeseries_2024_25.ods.

Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms will be used to prioritise recommendations in the Farming Profitability Review.

We are considering the 57 recommendations set out in the Farming Profitability Review. So far, we have announced the creation of a new Farming and Food Partnership Board, whose objective will be to strengthen food production at home and ensure policy delivers real change for farmers; and changes to planning rules to place greater emphasis on food production, making it easier for farmers to develop infrastructure such as reservoirs, greenhouses, polytunnels and farm shops. We are also stepping up action on supply chain fairness, and have announced a new SFI offer for 2026, which will be more focussed, more transparent and fairer so that as many farmers as possible can benefit from it. We will set out a fuller response later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what work has been done to model the impact of climate variability on farm profitability projections.

Results from Defra’s annual Farm Business Survey provide an assessment of how the weather and other factors have influenced farm profitability in the previous year. These are published at: Farm Business Survey - GOV.UK Last year we published Baroness Batters’ Farming Profitability Review, which offers a clear assessment of the challenges facing farmers alongside 57 recommendations for strengthening farm businesses. We are grateful for this substantial piece of work, which is rooted in years of experience and provides important evidence to guide our approach. We will now carefully consider the findings and recommendations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of potential barriers to rural workforce housing on farm labour availability.

The Government regularly reviews and publishes data relating to rural housing on GOV.UK: Housing Statistics for Rural England - GOV.UK. The Government gives all due consideration to this data, including implications for the rural workforce, when formulating policy. In relation to seasonal workers via the visa route, there are no housing barriers identified for this cohort as accommodation is provided as part of the conditions of their sponsor, in the main part as on-farm caravan accommodation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment she has made of the level of earnings for people in residence-based and workplace-based employment settings in rural communities in Buckinghamshire.

The Official Statistics Rural-Urban Classification classifies Buckinghamshire as an intermediate urban authority, having between 20% and 35% of its population within rural areas. The Department has figures for median and lower quartile gross annual earnings in 2024 for Buckinghamshire as a whole, as shown in the table below. Workplace-based earnings refer to the earnings of employees who work in Buckinghamshire - they may or may not live in Buckinghamshire. Residence-based earnings refer to the earnings of workers who live in Buckinghamshire, regardless of where they work. Gross annual earnings for the Buckinghamshire in 2024 Median (£)Lower quartile (£)Residence-based43,30031,300Workplace-based39,80030,000 This information is published within Defra’s Rural Economic Bulletin Supplementary Data Tables. Worksheets BC and BF contain the workplace based and residence-based earnings respectively for every local authority in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her Department's report entitled Rural Economic Bulletin, updated on 10 December 2025, what assessment she has made of recent rural employment trends in Buckinghamshire.

The Official Statistics Rural-Urban Classification classifies Buckinghamshire as an intermediate urban authority, having between 20% and 35% of its population within rural areas. The Department has employment figures for Buckinghamshire as a whole. Between 2020 and 2022 the proportion of the working-age population in Buckinghamshire who were employed rose from 77.7% to 81.6% before falling back to 80.5% in 2024. Data for Buckinghamshire for the 5 most recent years is published within Defra’s Rural Economic Bulletin Supplementary Data Tables. Worksheet AD contains the percentage of the working-age population who were employed for every local authority in England across the period 2006 to 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment criteria are used for evaluating applications to food industry investment programmes.

Investment is through grants to sustainable farming and food production businesses and prioritised in terms of where it delivers most value. Applications are assessed against published criteria.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department records skills gaps identified by rural enterprises applying for Government support.

Defra provides funding to rural businesses via the Rural England Prosperity Fund. The fund is devolved to local authorities, and each individual eligible local authority are responsible for running their own rounds of funding. Defra does not record skills gaps identified by rural enterprises applying for Government support.

Food and Rural Affairs, what performance indicators are used to review the effectiveness of food sector capital incentives.

Investment is through grants to sustainable farming and food production businesses and prioritised in terms of where it delivers most value. Applications are assessed against published criteria.