Written questions by Jones.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the exclusion of UK recyclate from the Single Use Plastics Directive on (a) material dumping and (b) the circular economy.

We are monitoring ‘European preference’ and ‘Made in Europe’ clauses included in legislation and strategies. We are working across government departments and with key industry stakeholders to understand potential impacts.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the European Commission on the exclusion of UK recyclate from the Single Use Plastics Directive.

Yes. The UK Government has raised Directive (EU) 2019/904 (the Single Use Plastics Directive) and associated implementing decisions with the EU Commission.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to eliminate sewage overflow releases into (a) the River Loddon and (b) other protected chalk streams.

Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme, the Environment Agency (EA) is driving improvements at sewage treatment works including in the Loddon catchment. These include upgrades to deliver against the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan and other investigations and improvement schemes which Thames Water are required to complete. The EA has inspected all Thames Water sewage treatment works within the River Loddon catchment. Any permit breaches it identifies are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and any confirmed serious breaches are investigated and enforced against in line with the EA’s enforcement and sanctions policy. Across England, over £10 billion is being invested to improve about 2,500 storm overflows by 2030, with upgrades prioritised at high priority sites including chalk streams.

Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment her Department has made of the long-term costs of post-flood clean-up operations with the potential savings from investing in proactive flood prevention measures, such as enhanced maintenance, equipment procurement, and staffing for flood control infrastructure.

The Environment Agency is delivering the Government’s flood and coastal risk management (FCRM) Investment Programme. For every £1 spent in the Investment Programme improving protection from flooding and coastal erosion, around £8 of property damages is avoided. Post flood clean-up costs are considered as part of the wider economic appraisal of flood investment projects. A new 3-year £4.2 billion FCRM Investment Programme will start in April 2026, where new projects will align with the strategic objectives set out within the Government’s new funding rules announced in October 2025. The new investment programme will also reduce deterioration and target repairs to flood defence assets, benefitting an additional 14,500 properties in England. The Environment Agency updated its National Flood Risk Assessment in 2025. This provides the best available evidence to inform the development of flood mitigation strategies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment protocols are in place to evaluate the cumulative impact of new hydroelectric installations on water flow, flood risk, and ecological balance.

Any building or structure in the floodplain must ensure that it is resilient to flooding and that it does not increase flood risk for anybody else in the floodplain. Hydroelectric power is governed by a strict regulatory framework managed primarily by the Environment Agency (EA) that ensures that hydroelectric installations are safe and that they do not increase flood risk. The core requirements for any new hydropower installation are:Environmental Permits: You must apply for an environmental permit for flood risk activities to build structures in, over, or near a main river.Impounding Licences: building or modifying a dam or weir to hold back water requires an impounding licence to ensure that the structure does not negatively impact water levels or downstream safety. While the other two requirements apply to all infrastructure near a river that can impact flood risk, this is specific to hydropower installations.Mandatory Flood Risk Assessments (FRA): Planning applications for hydropower schemes must include a site-specific Flood Risk Assessment which demonstrate that the installation doesn’t increase flood risk elsewhere and that it is resilient to climate change, using specific climate change allowances for peak river flows. The EA uses flood modelling to understand the risk of flooding at a local and a national level. Its flood models use a range of information to help make them as reliable as possible, including information about the different types of land use and structures which could influence the way water flows. In line with Government planning policy, the EA provides advice on planning submissions for new hydroelectric installations, considering impacts on water flow, flood risk and ecological balance. This ensures that planning proposals do not result in unacceptable flood risk or environmental harm.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will to outline the governance framework for managing River Thames navigation assets, including the criteria and decision-making process for modifying lock structures and updating or creating base hydrological data.

The Environment Agency (EA) maintains a comprehensive network of local and national governance and assurance boards that oversee the safety, operational performance, and investment prioritisation of its navigation assets. Public safety is the primary factor guiding navigation investment decisions, supported by the need to maintain and improve asset condition. Prioritisation of Government Grant‑in‑Aid funding for non‑tidal Thames navigation assets is informed by statutory requirements, service delivery standards, and customer benefits across varying asset types. Water level management and enhancements to navigation facilities also form core elements of the EA’s investment planning. Hydrometry stations across the Thames are critical for managing water abstractions, river levels, and navigation operations. The hydrological data they provide helps maintain and update flood forecasting models and informs the design of new flood risk management schemes. In the 2025/26 financial year, the EA invested £28 million across its navigation waterways, with £18.2 million invested along the Thames.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues, (b) the Food Standards Agency and (c) other stakeholders on the potential impact of reducing UK tariffs on US meat and seafood products.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. The department engages regularly with the Food Standards Agency and other stakeholders on a range of topics, including trade. Nobody wants a trade war, and our focus for now is on keeping calm and continuing to negotiate a wider economic deal with the United States. The UK will only do a deal that is in the national interest of the UK and its businesses. To enable the UK to have every option open to us in the future, the Business and Trade Secretary has launched a request for input on the implications for British businesses of possible retaliatory action.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the French Government's decision to ban products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The Government has recently completed a rapid review of the Environment Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 and will introduce a revised EIP in 2025. The revised EIP will include the Government's approach to managing chemicals, including the risks posed by PFAS. Other work is continuing across the Government to help us assess levels of PFAS occurring in the environment, their sources and potential risks to inform future measures. This includes the initiation of a UK REACH dossier investigating whether to restrict the use of PFAS in firefighting foams. We also monitor measures being taken in other jurisdictions such as France to inform possible approaches in the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish an impact assessment of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations on the automotive industry.

Defra officials are in the process of engaging with the automotive industry in relation to the impacts of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulation 2024. Details of any further steps will be published in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to amend the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulations to allow, by derogation, the placing on the market of UV-328 present in articles and the use of such articles in land-based motor vehicles until 26 February 2030.

Defra officials are in the process of engaging with the automotive industry in relation the Persistent Organic Pollutants (Amendment) Regulation 2024, including the use of UV-328 by the automotive industry and the issue of derogations. Details of any further steps will be published in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wokingham to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury on funding for surplus food redistribution, dated 30 October 2024.

A reply to the hon. Member has been prepared and will be issued very shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 11480 on Import Controls: Fees and Charges, when he plans to make available further information on the (a) charge and (b) operating costs at Sevington.

The Government plans to publish this information in Spring 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of leaving the European (a) Union, (b) Customs Union and (c) Single Market on food prices.

This Government cares deeply about the cost of living and food security; therefore, it closely monitors factors impacting food prices. Defra modelling shows that consumer food prices are driven by farmgate prices, import prices, exchange rates, labour costs in food manufacturing and non-labour costs in food manufacturing. We are working to reset our relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties and tackle barriers to boost UK-EU trade. We will seek to negotiate a veterinary/SPS agreement to boost trade and deliver benefits to businesses and consumers in the UK and the EU. We have been clear that we are ambitious to improve our trading relationship but we are not rejoining the single market or customs union, and we will not return to freedom of movement.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to legislate to ensure that imported egg products meet welfare standards equivalent to the UK.

The Government recognises farmers’ concerns about imports produced using methods not permitted in the UK. We have been clear that we will use our Trade Strategy to promote the highest food production standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding he plans to allocate to the Sevington border control post in each of the next five financial years.

Operating costs for the Government-run Sevington border control post are designed to be recovered by the Common User Charge (CUC) The Government will keep the CUC rates under review and will continue to consider the impact of the charge on businesses of all sizes across all sectors. Regular reviews will be undertaken to monitor levels of payment compliance and import flows through the short straits. Further information on the charge and the operating costs at Sevington will be made available in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on farmers.

Data relating to farmers are regularly published. Agriculture in the UK 2023 was published in June 2024. Farming evidence packs have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance Farming statistics evidence packs - GOV.UK. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK, and the contribution of Direct Payments to farm incomes, including analysis by sector, location in England and type of land tenure. We publish regular statistics on farm income, agricultural productivity and food production, including data earlier this year looking at how farm business income has changed since the start of the agricultural transition.Monitoring the agricultural transition period in England, 2022/23 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the (a) number, (b) value and (c) repayment rate of invoices issued at Government-run border control point for charges incurred since 30 April 2024.

Further information on the charge and the operating costs at Sevington will be made available in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to launch a consultation on phasing out cages for layer hens.

We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. The use of enriched ‘colony’ cages for laying hens is an issue we will want to fully consider in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to bring forward legislative proposals on banning the import of dogs with cropped ears.

Ear cropping has rightly been banned in the UK for over 15 years. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence in England and Wales to carry out a non-exempted mutilation e.g., where a surgical procedure is not carried out for medical purposes, such as the cropping of a dog’s ears. While the practice is illegal in the UK, we recognise that the current legislative framework can be abused by traders who import these dogs from abroad. As outlined in our manifesto, the Government is committed to ending puppy smuggling. We will clamp down on unscrupulous traders who prioritise profit over welfare. We are considering the most effective ways to deliver this and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage schools to participate in the school milk subsidy scheme.

The long-standing School Milk Subsidy Scheme was accessed by over 11,000 schools in England in the last school year. Any school wishing to participate can access information about the Scheme here. The scheme is voluntary and it is a matter for individual schools as to whether they wish to participate in it.