Written questions by Anderson.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding was allocated to local partnerships in Buckinghamshire in the last rural and wildlife crime funding settlement.

Defra does not provide financial allocations to local partnerships for tackling wildlife crime but instead provides funding directly at the national level, to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), and in 2025/26 is providing £424,000. Home Office, similarly, does not provide financial allocations to local partnerships. Home Office provides funding directly at the national level. In 2025/26 the Home Office has provided the NWCU with £450k and the National Rural Crime Unit with £365k. The NWCU helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats, and assisting law enforcers with investigations. In 2024-25 the NWCU provided support on wildlife crime cases to every local police force in the UK including Thames Valley Police.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to support the monitoring of environmental lead contamination by conservation bodies in Buckinghamshire.

Under the Environment Improvement Plan, we provide long-term monitoring in England to assess and manage risk from substances known to be harmful, including lead. Trends for exposure of people and wildlife to harmful chemicals are set out in the Outcome Indicator Framework for the Environment Improvement Plan. Minister Hardy recently announced a decision to restrict the use of lead in certain ammunition through UK REACH. This is now being taken forward, including how the restriction will be enforced and monitored. The Health and Safety executive, alongside the Environment Agency, will be responsible for monitoring this restriction.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to review the impact of the increased water regulation budget on water company compliance by the end of the regulatory period.

This Government has been clear there is no excuse for poor performance, and we will not look the other way while companies routinely fail to meet agreed standards. Water companies must take seriously their role in meeting the public and regulators expectations. Ofwat is financed by licence fees that are recovered from the water companies and are accountable to Parliament for the money they spend. The Environment Agency, who are in charge of water company inspections and prosecutions for environmental damage, will receive a cash injection of over £189 million this financial year. This will fund more enforcement officers, improved equipment and the latest technology for the regulator. This year alone it will carry out more than 10,000 inspections of water company assets and has already launched a record 81 criminal investigations into water company pollution incidents since July 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's policy paper entitled Flood and coastal erosion risk management: an investment plan for 2021 to 2027, published on 29 July 2021, what estimate his Department has made of the number of flood defence schemes funded under the plan that affect communities in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

In the Buckingham and Bletchley Constituency, four projects have received, or have had funding allocated, within the current FCRM investment-plan period which is now due to end in March 2026. Projects include delivery of Natural Flood Management (NFM) in Leckhampstead, an NFM catchment opportunity study, investigation into Sustainable-Urban-Drainage measures in Tingewick and works to Thornborough Sluice.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the Environment Agency on the prioritisation of flood resilience measures under the national investment programme in Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.

We are investing a record £2.65 billion in 2024/25 and 2025/26 to improve flood resilience by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. The full list of over 700 schemes to benefit from fresh funding this year was announced on 31 March 2024 and can be found here. Property Flood Resilience measures can be effective in managing the risk of flooding. This option will always be considered and assessed alongside a range of other Flood Risk Management solutions to determine which is the most suitable for the community at risk. In 2011, 96 properties in Buckingham were provided with Property Flood Resilience, with an expected benefits period of 20 years.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that schemes funded through the flood investment programme are resilient to climate change risk scenarios.

The Environment Agency’s (EA) flood and coastal erosion risk management (FCERM) Appraisal Guidance factors climate change allowances into the design of all FCERM schemes. This ensures that projects in the EA’s investment programme provide good value for money, are fit for the future, or can be adapted over time to mitigate future increases in flood risk. The recently published new national flood risk assessment and national coastal erosion risk map account for climate change and underpin all flood risk planning and investment activities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with Ofwat on the use of its increased budget to help improve enforcement activity.

Ofwat delivers enforcement activities to secure companies’ compliance with their legal obligations and improve company behaviours in order to protect the interests of customers and the environment. Where companies are in breach of obligations that it enforces, Ofwat will step in and hold companies to account through enforcement action. At this year's multi-year Comprehensive Spending Review, HM Treasury approved Ofwat's plans to increase its budget to recruit more resources. This includes increases to its capacity and capability for enforcement Ofwat will be able to ensure its enforcement activities continue to hold water companies to account. With these additional resources, Ofwat will be better equipped to ensure that its enforcement activities continue to hold water companies accountable.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the water regulation budget on Ofwat’s regulatory capacity.

Ofwat is the independent economic regulator for the water and sewerage industry in England and Wales. Ofwat is directly accountable to Parliament, and its duties are set out in the Water Industry Act 1991. Ofwat is primarily a levy funded regulator raising our income from water companies through licence fees. As a result of Ofwat's increase in funding as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, it will be able to respond to the pace of change required now and in the future. Ofwat has, and will continue to, recruit additional capacity and capability to support the government’s longer-term plans for reforming the sector and to continue to improve the way it regulates to improve outcomes for customers, society and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department plans to take to help support tenant farmers to access the capital grants scheme.

Defra reopened the Capital Grants offer from 3rd July, with £150 million available for this new round, allowing farmers to buy equipment or services that help them make environmental improvements. We have made the offer as accessible as possible to tenant farmers. Tenants can apply if they either have 5 years remaining on their tenancy or have the countersignature of their landlord, who is agreeing to take on the responsibilities of the agreement if the tenancy ends during the 5 year period. This is because they need to be able to install and maintain any items funded through the offer for 5 years from the start of their agreement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms have been agreed with the United States to monitor compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards under paragraph 2(a) of the General Terms.

On 8 May, the UK Government announced a landmark economic deal with the United States, making the UK the first country to reach an agreement with President Trump. This delivers on the commitment by the Prime Minister and the President on 27 February to agree an economic deal in our respective national interests. All food imports into the UK, including those via the new reciprocal quotas for beef agreed with the US, must comply with all of the UK’s import requirements, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules. That means that hormone-treated beef will remain banned in the UK and will not be permitted under the economic deal with the US. The UK has effective systems and checks in place to monitor compliance with our SPS rules. Nothing has changed in this agreement with regards to how the UK controls the safety of food imported from the US. Each consignment of beef must have an export health certificate, certified by a veterinarian as compliant with British legislation, including the ban on hormone-treated beef. There are also regular checks at the UK border, including taking samples of products to look for any contaminants and drug residues. We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, secure our food security and uphold our high food, animal welfare and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do. Any agricultural imports coming into the UK will have to meet our high SPS standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of eligible cattle holdings that will access support through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway by 2027.

Animal health and welfare is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Cattle farm businesses are currently able to claim funding for the Animal Health and Welfare Review (AHWR) and Endemic Disease Follow-up if they have more than 10 cattle. Defra’s analysis of AHWR uptake published on 20 February 2025 estimated that there are 30025 eligible cattle holdings and an uptake rate of 8.9%. Uptake is expected to increase as planned iterations to the scheme are implemented. We are reforecasting estimated uptake rates based on these changes. We encourage all eligible holdings to join the schemes to take advantage of the support on offer. The February 2025 analysis of uptake is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/animal-health-and-welfare-review-uptake/animal-health-and-welfare-review-uptake#eligible-farm-businesses-in-england

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the geographical distribution of cattle-specific infrastructure grants under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

The deadline for full applications for the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare grant was the 30 April 2025. There were no geographic targets for the grant. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is in the process of reviewing and approving final applications for the grant. It is too early to assess the distribution of grants awarded, until all full applications have been assessed and grant funding agreements issued to successful applicants.

Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms are in place to monitor the environmental outcomes from the equipment and technology funded through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare. Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund for farmers in Buckinghamshire.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare. Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the Investor Partnerships programme at increasing the commercialisation of agricultural technologies.

The Farming Innovation Investor Partnerships programme, launched on 2 June, builds on a pilot round where recipient companies were awarded over £4 million in grant funding that leveraged more than £10 million in private investment. Most of the companies involved now have commercially available products, and have unlocked additional private funding.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to monitor long-term animal health outcomes for herds participating in the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway in Buckinghamshire.

Animal Health and Welfare is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway supports continual improvement in farm animal health. Defra has an ongoing monitoring and evaluation approach to assess health and welfare outcomes relating to Pathway participation, so that lessons can be learned from periodic reviews. Our first Animal Health And Welfare Review: Process Evaluation Report - Ff0211has been published and can be found at https://sciencesearch.app.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21755. We will be publishing further information periodically, as evaluation results become available.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund on the adoption of precision agriculture technologies among small and medium-sized farms in Buckinghamshire.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) provides small capital grants to farmers, growers and foresters in England to help them invest in equipment and technology that improves productivity, manage slurry, and supports animal health and welfare. Defra is conducting an evaluation to explore the impacts of grants on beneficiaries and their businesses, including environmental outcomes. This evaluation is focussed on Round 1 beneficiaries (launched in November 2021 and paid out in 2022).

Food and Rural Affairs, how many of the 3,000 farming businesses that started but did not submit applications to the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 scheme after 12 January 2025 are based in Buckinghamshire.

There are 34 farming businesses in Buckinghamshire that started but did not submit an application to the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 scheme after 12 January 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many live Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements were in place in Buckinghamshire as of 11 March 2025.

As of 11 March 2025, there are 323 farmers who have accepted a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement (SFI Pilot, SFI 23 and SFI EO) in Buckinghamshire.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many cases of illegal waste dumping have been recorded in Buckinghamshire in each of the last five years.

Local authorities are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions to Defra, which the department has published annually since 2012 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/env24-fly-tipping-incidents-and-actions-taken-in-england. This data excludes the majority of private-land incidents. This data shows that Buckinghamshire Council has reported the following fly-tipping incidents since it was established in 2020/21. Prior to this, incidents were reported by the relevant district councils. 2023/24 - 42722022/23 - 32932021/22 - 31402020/21 - 3954