Written questions by Morello.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to mitigate the risk of coastal erosion on (a) agricultural land and (b) rural infrastructure.

England has some of the most rapidly eroding coast in Europe due to natural processes. Climate change, sea level rise and increased storminess will increase the rate of change, which will threaten the resilience of coastal communities if no action is taken. In January 2025, the Environment Agency (EA) will publish the updated National Coastal Erosion Risk Map for England. This is based on a further ten years of coastal monitoring data, the latest climate change evidence and technical input from coastal local authorities. It will provide the best available information on coastal erosion risk and be used by coastal local authorities and the EA to inform coastal management investment and local planning decisions. The new data and map will include coastal erosion projections through this century, including the effects of climate change and provide an updated assessment of properties, infrastructure and agricultural land at risk. It takes account of the latest coastal management approaches set out in Shoreline Management Plans. To ensure we protect the country from the devastating impacts of flooding, we will invest £2.4 billion over the next two years to improve flood resilience, by maintaining, repairing and building flood defences. We are investing £36 million supporting local authorities in East Riding of Yorkshire, North Norfolk and Dorset to explore innovative approaches in adapting to the effects of coastal erosion.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage afforestation projects to (a) enhance biodiversity and (b) reduce carbon emissions.

Total tree planting and woodland creation reached over 5,500 hectares in England in 2023/24. All publicly subsidised afforestation projects must comply with the UK Forestry Standards (UKFS) requirements. The UKFS has been developed specifically for forestry in the UK and is based on applying internationally agreed criteria which support the delivery of sustainable forest management and recognise the need to balance environmental, economic and social objectives. The England Woodland Creation Offer includes supplements that incentivise the creation of native woodland with high biodiversity potential. Biodiversity Net Gain also offers opportunities to create new woodlands that enhance biodiversity.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to ensure that water companies do not allow storm sewage overflows to impact (a) rivers and (b) coastal areas in West Dorset constituency.

The Government has taken immediate and substantial action to address water companies who are not performing for the environment or their customers. In July, we announced swift action to begin resetting the water sector, including ringfencing vital funding for infrastructure investment and placing customers and the environment at the heart of water company objectives. In September, Government introduced the Water (Special Measures) Bill to give regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action to crack down on water companies damaging the environment and failing their customers. Furthermore, on 23 October, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Welsh government, launched an Independent Commission on the water sector regulatory system, to fundamentally transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good. All storm overflows in the West Dorset constituency are now fitted with event duration monitors and, from January 2025, water companies will have a duty to publish spill frequency and duration data in near real-time.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, of the potential impact of a lack of nest sites, including buildings, on Red Listed cavity-nesting birds.

Cavity nesting birds in England that use buildings, and which are on the Red List (Birds of Conservation Concern), are the house sparrow, house martin, swift and starling. While Defra has not made an assessment of the potential impact of a lack of nest sites, Natural England, working with its partners, has identified that the lack of nest sites is one of the pressures on these species. Therefore, provision of nest boxes may aid recovery alongside other actions, such as to increase food resources.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has provided to help tackle pollution caused by untreated sewage overflow to local authorities in West Dorset constituency in the 2024-25 financial year.

It is the responsibility of water companies to invest in infrastructure and other improvements to reduce untreated wastewater pollution incidents. Since 2021 Water Companies have invested in 65 schemes in the West Dorset constituency which includes 6 improvement schemes for water quality and 39 monitoring programmes, with 63 of these due for completion by 31/3/2025. All storm overflows, including those in the West Dorset constituency are now fitted with Event Duration Monitors, which provide discharge data from storm overflows in near real time. This will help provide information to support regulators’ investigations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that fishing catch limits are in line with scientific advice on that matter.

As an independent coastal State the UK sets catch limits, primarily through negotiation with other coastal States. In line with our domestic and international obligations, including those of the Fisheries Act 2020 and Joint Fisheries Statement, our approach to setting catch limits is based on the best available scientific advice, including advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) on maximum sustainable yield where that is available. Following the conclusion of this year's annual fisheries negotiations, the Government will publish an independent assessment of the number of TACs set consistent with ICES advice for 2025 as it has done in previous years.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve the quality of water in rivers in West Dorset constituency.

Since 2021 Water Companies have invested in 65 schemes in the West Dorset constituency which includes 6 improvement schemes for water quality and 39 monitoring programmes, with 63 of these due for completion by 31 May 2025. All storm overflows in the West Dorset constituency are now fitted with Event Duration Monitors. The Environment Agency (EA) has also been working with partners in West Dorset on projects such as the Flagship Upper Frome Chalk Stream project and a Natural Flood Management project in the upper River Yeo/River Wriggle, which will deliver a range of environmental improvements to reduce diffuse pollution from land management practices and improve water quality. The EA also has specialist Agriculture Teams that are focused on agricultural regulatory compliance in the Chesil, Fleet and Poole Harbour catchments.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of rewilding to increase biodiversity in (a) coastal and (b) rural constituencies.

The Government is supporting a number of initiatives to create wilder landscapes across England, as part of a broad approach to nature recovery. The Government will publish a Land Use Framework for England later this year, taking a collaborative approach. The Framework will explore different approaches to delivery to ensure that we strike the right balance between a range of objectives on food security, economic growth, housing and infrastructure delivery.