Every parliamentary written question tabled by Fabian Hamilton this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–12 of 12 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to Question 100196, what steps her Department is taking to bring forward legislation to end the sale of peat for horticultural use; and whether she plans to accelerate the proposed implementation timeline.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Maidenhead, Joshua Reynolds, on 18 December 2025, PQ UIN 100196.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2025 to UIN 62951, what progress she has made on incorporating method-of-production labelling reform into the development of animal welfare and food strategies; and if she will publish a timetable for implementation.
This Government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. In the food strategy we identified 10 priority outcomes, including ensuring that food supply is environmentally sustainable with high animal welfare standards. The Prime Minister announced that we will be publishing an animal welfare strategy this year. We have considered key priorities for animal welfare in the development of the strategy and will set these out in the strategy upon publication.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered mandating the use of compostable fresh produce stickers; and if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on arable land.
The Department has not considered mandating the use of compostable fresh produce stickers and does not currently have plans to assess the potential impact of such a measure on arable land. However, we remain committed to supporting sustainable packaging solutions and continue to monitor developments in this area.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to incentivise the use of compostable fresh produce stickers through the Extended Producer Responsibility fee structure by using (a) green and (b) amber ratings under the Recyclability Assessment Methodology.
At present, the Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) does not provide a separate incentive for compostable materials; the methodology is designed to support a circular economy by prioritising materials that can be recycled into new products. Therefore, unless compostable stickers meet recyclability criteria under RAM, they would not qualify for a green rating and associated lower fees. PackUK keeps RAM guidance/modulation under review and updates it annually to reflect changes in infrastructure and material performance. Any future consideration of changing ratings for compostable materials within the RAM would require evidence that they can be processed through existing recycling systems without contamination risk.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she will introduce secondary legislation under the Environment Act 2021 for due diligence rules for forest-risk commodities.
The Government recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is actively considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 32775 on Swifts: Conservation, what recent progress has been made in those discussions; and what steps she is taking to help increase uptake.
Defra policy officials continue to work with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government colleagues on swift brick policy, alongside wider nature and planning matters. As part of our work to develop a set of national planning policies for decision making, the Government intends to consult on changes which require swift bricks to be incorporated into new buildings unless there are compelling reasons which preclude their use, or which would make them ineffective. This would strengthen significantly the planning policy expectations already in place, meaning – for example – that we would expect to see at least one swift brick in all new brick-built houses. As an interim step ahead of the consultation, we have published updated Planning Practice Guidance setting out how swift bricks are expected to be used in new development, and signposting to further guidance including the British Industry Standard, Part 2 of the National Model Design Code, the Future Homes Hub Homes for Nature Guidance, and the RSPB’s Guide to Nestboxes.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) farmers and (b) exporters are protected from unfair supermarket practices not covered by the (i) Groceries Code Adjudicator and (ii) Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator.
The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025. The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations. This is distinct from the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA), which regulates the relationship between large retailers and their direct suppliers. The Government is committed to an evidence-based approach to regulating the supply chain and providing opportunities to assess the effectiveness of the approach.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support an international agreement that includes targets to reduce plastic production ahead of the next round of Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in August 2025.
The Government is committed to reaching an agreement on a global legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution when negotiations resume in August 2025. At the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on a treaty to end plastic pollution, the UK endorsed a statement calling for all countries to commit to achieving sustainable levels of primary plastic production and for a global target. Ahead of negotiations we are engaging with other countries to push for an effective treaty that addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including sustainable production and consumption.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure local authorities have (a) clear guidance and (b) funding to meet the March 2026 deadline for collecting (i) food, (ii) drink, (iii) liquid cartons and (iv) other core recyclable materials under Simpler Recycling reforms.
We have published guidance to assist local authorities, other waste collectors and workplaces implement the Simpler Recycling requirements on GOV.UK. This includes guidance on: Simpler recycling: household recycling in EnglandSimpler recycling: workplace recycling in EnglandCollecting paper and card with other dry recyclable materials: written assessmentsEnsuring good waste collection services for households We welcome stakeholder feedback, and we are working with our networks of local authority and waste collector stakeholders, as well as sector experts the Waste and Resources Action Programme, to identify and develop additional guidance where appropriate. Regarding funding, Extended Producer Responsibility payments will be provided to local authorities for the costs of collecting and managing household packaging waste through efficient and effective services. This includes the collection of additional packaging materials for recycling such as plastic films and flexibles. We have provided local authorities in England with £261.66 million in capital and £56.2 million in resource funding for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years for the weekly collection of food waste from households. A second resource funding payment will be provided in the 2025/26 financial year. Ongoing resource funding from 1 April 2026 is subject to an agreement through a further spending review.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to introduce a closed season for hare shooting.
This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only, with the potential for relevant policy to extend and apply to Wales. While the Government has no immediate plan to introduce a close season for hares in England, the policy remains under consideration as part of the Government’s plans to introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation.
Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on plans to ban the import of hunting trophies.
The Government committed to banning the import of hunting trophies in its Manifesto. We intend to deliver on this and are currently considering the most effective way to do so.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help improve sustainable fishing.
Protecting and, where necessary, recovering our fish stocks is a priority for this Government, because fish is food and food security is national security. It is also committed to restoring and protecting nature at sea as well as on land. The Government is making progress delivering Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs) which set out how to maintain or restore fish stocks to sustainable levels. The sixth Defra-led FMP was published on 10 October, with consultations launched on a further five draft FMPs too. Through fisheries negotiations with our international partners, our objective is to set Total Allowable Catches in line with the best available scientific advice to ensure that stocks are managed over the long term within sustainable limits. We are also introducing other fisheries management reforms domestically, including, for example, the introduction of Remote Electronic Monitoring, and action to reduce incidental bycatch in our fisheries.