Written questions by Hazelgrove.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made in developing the Government's Food Strategy; and what the next key milestones are before its publication.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support communities in delivering nature recovery, improving biodiversity and delivering positive environmental outcomes alongside new developmen

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to prevent pollution in local rivers in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency, including Patchway Brook.

The Environment Agency regularly inspects combined sewer overflows in the Filton and Bradley Stoke area, and is carrying out enforcement work following a serious pollution incident of the Hortham and Patchway Brook. It is also investigating silt pollution...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the animal welfare of greyhounds exported to (a) China, (b) Pakistan and (c) elsewhere.

The Department is not aware that there is a widespread problem with the welfare of greyhounds being exported to a) China, b) Pakistan or c) elsewhere.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of mandatory microchipping for cats over 20 weeks on the proportion of pets reunited with their owners in the event of a road traffic accident.

From 10 June 2024, all owned cats in England over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database. The legislation is intended to improve pet welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray pets with their keepers. Defra has commissioned a research project to understand the operational challenges that currently prevent some cats from being reunited with their keepers after a road traffic accident. The project will provide an evidence base to inform best practice for local authorities and is due to report later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the increase in animal cruelty incidents in the South West in the last 12 months; and what steps his Department is taking to help tackle this increase.

Defra monitors animal welfare offences on a national basis based on data provided by the Ministry of Justice. Defra regularly meets the RSPCA and other stakeholders to discuss animal welfare issues affecting the sector including any trends in animal welfare offences. Causing unnecessary suffering to an animal is an offence under section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. In 2021, the maximum sentence for this offence was increased to five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. In addition, the Online Safety Act 2023 requires social media firms to remove online content that could facilitate animal cruelty. Ofcom is currently consulting on how these new requirements should be implemented.