Written questions by Morello.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the environmental impact of sewage discharges into the River Wriggle.

In 2019, the River Wriggle was assessed as having poor ecological health due to high levels of phosphate. In the River Wriggle, phosphate mainly comes from agricultural sources, but sewage discharges also contain phosphate from everyday chemicals such as washing detergents. In 2025, additional treatment was installed at Thornford Sewage Treatment Works to significantly reduce the amount of phosphate being released into the river. Early monitoring shows this has already reduced the amount of phosphate being released. The river’s other chemical and biological indicators are assessed as ‘Good’ or ‘High’, and invertebrate communities remain high. The river’s water quality continues to be regularly monitored, so any changes caused by sewage discharges can be spotted and further action taken if needed.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of requiring Disability Living Allowance applications for children to be submitted by post on families of children with SEND.

We regularly consider the impact of our processes for Disability Living Allowance on our customers, including parents of children with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND). We have not identified a disproportionate impact of requiring applications to be submitted by post on families of children with SEND. We offer Parent/Guardians a 6 week window to complete the form and return it, to maintain the date of claim, as well as extending the window in relevant extenuating circumstances. We continue to explore opportunities to modernise the service.

What consideration his Department has given to reducing administration for parents of children with SEND when applying for Disability Living Allowance.

We regularly consider the impact of our processes for Disability Living Allowance on our customers, including parents of children with Special Education Needs and Disability (SEND). We have not identified a disproportionate impact of requiring applications to be submitted by post on families of children with SEND. We offer Parent/Guardians a 6 week window to complete the form and return it, to maintain the date of claim, as well as extending the window in relevant extenuating circumstances. We continue to explore opportunities to modernise the service.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that Do Not Resuscitate decisions have adequate safeguards in place.

A Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision is made on an individual, on a person by person basis, and should, wherever possible, involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians, or other legally recognised advocates. Professional guidance on cardiopulmonary resuscitation is provided by clinical bodies such as the British Medical Association, The Resuscitation Council UK, and Royal College of Nursing, to support consistent decision-making, and reflect these principles.In 2021, the Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group, responsible for the delivery and required changes to ensure adherence to guidance across the system about how DNACPRs are used. As part of this work, a set of Universal Principles for Advance Care Planning were jointly published in March 2022 by a coalition of partner organisations across health and social care. The principles can be applied in all settings to provide safeguards and support people and their families, and professionals share the same understanding and expectations for DNACPR decisions.NHS England has also published patient-facing information on DNACPRs and where to get support if they are concerned about a DNACPR. This information can be found at the NHS.UK website.The Care Quality Commission continues to take action to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies, including the General Medical Council, as appropriate.

Communities and Local Government, whether the Future Homes Standard will require new homes to be built with solar panels installed.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) was published on 24 March 2026. The Future Homes Standard will require new homes to achieve very low carbon emissions and high levels of energy efficiency. Although the FHS is performance based, and does not mandate specific technologies, we expect that in most cases, the requirements will be met through the installation of rooftop solar panels, subject to practical constraints such as site conditions. We expect the majority of new homes to include solar, helping to save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing families’ exposure to international gas markets. Electric vehicle charging points are already required for new residential buildings with parking spaces under existing Building Regulations introduced in 2021, and this requirement will continue to apply.

Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to include solar panels as a default requirement in the Future Homes Standard.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) was published on 24 March 2026. The Future Homes Standard will require new homes to achieve very low carbon emissions and high levels of energy efficiency. Although the FHS is performance based, and does not mandate specific technologies, we expect that in most cases, the requirements will be met through the installation of rooftop solar panels, subject to practical constraints such as site conditions. We expect the majority of new homes to include solar, helping to save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing families’ exposure to international gas markets. Electric vehicle charging points are already required for new residential buildings with parking spaces under existing Building Regulations introduced in 2021, and this requirement will continue to apply.

Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of mandating technologies such as solar panels or electric vehicle chargers in the Future Homes Standard.

The Future Homes Standard (FHS) was published on 24 March 2026. The Future Homes Standard will require new homes to achieve very low carbon emissions and high levels of energy efficiency. Although the FHS is performance based, and does not mandate specific technologies, we expect that in most cases, the requirements will be met through the installation of rooftop solar panels, subject to practical constraints such as site conditions. We expect the majority of new homes to include solar, helping to save families hundreds of pounds a year, while also strengthening energy security by reducing families’ exposure to international gas markets. Electric vehicle charging points are already required for new residential buildings with parking spaces under existing Building Regulations introduced in 2021, and this requirement will continue to apply.

What guidance his Department provides to ensure consistency and oversight in the use of Do Not Resuscitate orders.

A Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision is made on an individual, on a person by person basis, and should, wherever possible, involve the person concerned or, where the person lacks capacity, their families, carers, guardians, or other legally recognised advocates. Professional guidance on cardiopulmonary resuscitation is provided by clinical bodies such as the British Medical Association, The Resuscitation Council UK, and Royal College of Nursing, to support consistent decision-making, and reflect these principles.In 2021, the Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group, responsible for the delivery and required changes to ensure adherence to guidance across the system about how DNACPRs are used. As part of this work, a set of Universal Principles for Advance Care Planning were jointly published in March 2022 by a coalition of partner organisations across health and social care. The principles can be applied in all settings to provide safeguards and support people and their families, and professionals share the same understanding and expectations for DNACPR decisions.NHS England has also published patient-facing information on DNACPRs and where to get support if they are concerned about a DNACPR. This information can be found at the NHS.UK website.The Care Quality Commission continues to take action to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies, including the General Medical Council, as appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers in West Dorset constituency with fertiliser costs.

The current situation and impacts on farmers in particular, and industry more widely, of current rising fertiliser prices are being monitored closely. Defra will continue to engage with industry and farmers to understand potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the costs associated with legal processes required to access Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs for disabled young people.

Disability refers to a range of conditions, many of which do not prevent holders of Child Trust Funds and JISAs accessing them in the usual way. Where parents and carers need to engage with provisions under the Mental Capacity Act to manage the finances of a child, the Ministry of Justice has provided a guide, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-how-to-guide-to-help-families-access-trust-funds-of-disabled-young-adults

What steps her Department is taking to enable disabled young people to access funds held in Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs when they turn 18.

Disability refers to a range of conditions, many of which do not prevent holders of Child Trust Funds and JISAs accessing them in the usual way. Where parents and carers need to engage with provisions under the Mental Capacity Act to manage the finances of a child, the Ministry of Justice has provided a guide, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-how-to-guide-to-help-families-access-trust-funds-of-disabled-young-adults

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of fertiliser price increases on food prices.

We are aware that increased input costs from fertiliser and energy have the potential to increase food prices in the medium to long term. Given this concern, we are closely monitoring the impacts of the conflict on food businesses and working with stakeholders to understand the implications for consumer prices.

What steps his Department is taking to introduce a digital application process for Disability Living Allowance for children.

We keep all our services under review including Disability Living Allowance (Child). As part of this approach to continuous improvement, we regularly consider opportunities to improve customer service.

What steps her Department is taking to simplify the process for families seeking access to Child Trust Funds and Junior ISAs for disabled young people.

Disability refers to a range of conditions, many of which do not prevent holders of Child Trust Funds and JISAs accessing them in the usual way. Where parents and carers need to engage with provisions under the Mental Capacity Act to manage the finances of a child, the Ministry of Justice has provided a guide, available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-how-to-guide-to-help-families-access-trust-funds-of-disabled-young-adults

Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans her Department has in place to secure fertiliser supply in the event of disruption to global trade routes.

The United Kingdom is not heavily dependent on direct nitrogen fertiliser imports from the Middle East, but like other countries we are exposed to global benchmark prices and international competition. Recent market volatility has seen an increase in fertiliser prices, reflecting global conditions rather than any immediate supply disruption to the UK. We will continue to monitor emerging evidence on UK supply and demand for ammonia and other fertilisers to understand potential pressures and options to mitigate any risks.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure long-term resilience in fertiliser supply chains.

The UK Government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive have launched a joint consultation and call for evidence on proposals to modernise UK fertilisers legislation. The consultation and call for evidence set out plans to help support innovation in the fertiliser sector, diversify supply, and strengthen the UK’s resilience to global market shocks. Current fertiliser regulations are widely seen as outdated and could do more to support fertiliser supply resilience and protect the environment, as well as being more agile to enable new products to enter the market.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz on fertiliser supply.

The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound. The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser that has occurred because of the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much is the total annual funding allocation for the Landscape Recovery Scheme for the current and next financial year.

The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. Defra has set out how it plans to spend this budget on its farming blog here and here. Landscape Recovery is part of the Environmental Land Management offer. Projects run over multiple years. In December 2025, Defra announced plans to spend £500m on the implementation of the first tranche of Round 1 agreements over the next 25 years. Further details on the timing of future rounds, and their funding, will follow in due course. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year, including Farming and Countryside Programme spend broken down by each scheme. The latest report, covering financial year 2024/25, can be accessed here: Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2024 to 2025 (HTML version) - GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding will be available for new applications to the Landscape Recovery Scheme in the next application round.

The Government has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament. Defra has set out how it plans to spend this budget on its farming blog here and here. Landscape Recovery is part of the Environmental Land Management offer. Projects run over multiple years. In December 2025, Defra announced plans to spend £500m on the implementation of the first tranche of Round 1 agreements over the next 25 years. Further details on the timing of future rounds, and their funding, will follow in due course. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year, including Farming and Countryside Programme spend broken down by each scheme. The latest report, covering financial year 2024/25, can be accessed here: Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2024 to 2025 (HTML version) - GOV.UK

What progress his Department has made on (a) developing and (b) implementing a debt relief scheme for households experiencing energy debt.

The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not. In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support. This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.