Written questions by Mierlo.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to review the (a) amount of funding for and (b) effectiveness of the current measures used by the Border Force to seize illegal meat.

Successful Border Force-led operations resulted in the interception, seizure and safe disposal of some 114 tonnes of meat illegally imported into the United Kingdom in 2024. We are not complacent about illegal meat smuggling, which may pose threats to animal health, food safety and public health. That is why we are working closely with the Home Office and the Food Standards Agency to tackle this issue with the support of Border Force, Port Health Authorities and local authorities. Border Force is funded by the Home Office.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of plastic grass on (a) biodiversity and (b) nature.

This Government is committed to moving to a circular economy – a future where we keep our resources in use for longer, waste is reduced, we accelerate the path to net zero, we see investment in critical infrastructure and green jobs, our economy prospers, and nature thrives. The government is currently considering the actions that can be taken to address the challenges associated with problematic plastic products. Defra recognises the importance of assessing the impacts of plastic grass on biodiversity and nature. As we develop our Circular Economy Strategy for England, we will consider the evidence for action from right across the economy and evaluate what interventions may be needed. The Government is committed to delivering our legally-binding biodiversity targets on species abundance, species extinction, habitat creation and restoration. The Environment Act 2021 introduced a number of policies that will support habitat restoration. For example, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) and a strengthened biodiversity duty on public authorities will work in tandem to create or restore habitats that enable wildlife to recover and thrive, while conservation covenants will help secure habitat for the long term.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of making insurance cover of properties at risk of flooding mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 5 February 2025, UIN 27724.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of making it mandatory for insurers participating in the Flood Re scheme to provide insurance to properties at risk of flooding.

Flood Re is a joint government and industry flood reinsurance scheme established specifically to help UK households at high risk of flooding to access affordable insurance through their insurance provider. In 2023/24, Flood Re provided cover for over 280,000 household policies, and report that 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 15 or more insurers. All insurance companies providing home insurance policies in the UK are required to pay the Flood Re Levy irrelevant of whether they cede policies to Flood Re or not. It is for individual companies to decide the policies they offer, and when to cede a policy to Flood Re. Householders are encouraged to always shop around for the most suitable policy for their needs, including flood cover. For anyone struggling to find appropriate insurance we advise them to look at BIBA’s Flood Insurance Directory, which can be accessed online via www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance. Alternatively, BIBA’s Find an insurance service can be contacted on 0370 950 1790, Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 5:30pm. Consumers must ensure the cover they choose provides appropriate cover for their circumstances.

Food and Rural Affairs, If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails.

The Government is committed to improving access to nature and is currently considering how best to continue to drive forward our goals in this area. There are no plans to undertake an assessment to consider the merits of introducing a statutory purpose for national trails at this time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the funding settlement is for National Trails UK for 2025-26.

The Government recognises the value of the Trails and the benefits they bring. We understand the uncertainty around resourcing remains a challenge for National Trails UK. Defra business planning is ongoing, and we will communicate the outcome of the settlements for National Trails UK as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of trends in the level of people (a) accessing national trails and (b) participating in outdoor activities on the cost to the public purse of providing NHS treatment.

The Government recognises that promoting regular outdoor activity is a vital component of preventative health, as it fosters physical activity, reduces the risk of long term conditions, supports mental well-being, and strengthens community health by encouraging active lifestyles and social engagement in natural environments. The 2017 baseline assessment covering the economic and health impacts of walking on English coastal paths found that for the 29 million leisure walking trips taken in 2017, the total benefit to the recreational wellbeing of people using the paths was valued at an estimated £1.8 billion. A 2021 study identified that the physical health benefits of active visitors to National Trails are estimated in the range £186 million to £423 million per year, which represents cost savings to the NHS of between £46 and £107 million per year. Outdoor exercise overall delivers estimated health benefits to adults in England of between £2.0 and £4.7 billion annually. It is clear from this evidence that there are significant benefits through improved access to national trails and engagement in outdoor activities. We will continue to work with other Government departments to embed access to nature as part of community-based preventative care approaches, in support of the Government’s Health Mission.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the contribution of national trails to biodiversity gain.

We are aware of the wider benefits that national trails can bring for nature recovery and biodiversity gain. The Coast to Coast National Trail was the first to include wider benefits in the National Trail proposal. This resulted in funding being allocated to nature recovery projects from the start of the establishment phase. We are mapping biodiversity projects associated with the trails and encouraging Local Nature Recovery Statements to consider the potential of National Trails.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential (a) merits of increasing funding for National Trails above 2012 levels and (b) impact of not increasing funding for National Trails on those trails.

As part of the Defra business planning process, we assess the requirements, opportunities and impacts of all projects that we fund. These are carefully considered within the wider context of spending review before final decisions are made. Further details will be provided in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of wool prices in the last (a) 6 months, (b) 12 months and (c) 8 years.

British Wool, a public body, is responsible for the collection, sale and marketing of wool from across the UK. Sales are conducted through open auction and will reflect global market developments in price and availability. This Government has made no assessment on the impact of policies on wool prices; however Defra officials meet regularly with British Wool, who share regular reports on auction sales and wool values.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect British wool businesses.

We have a proud tradition of wool production in this country. We recognise the sheep sector’s immense contribution to rural life, local economies, and iconic landscapes across the different countries of the UK. British Wool is a public body that works on behalf of farmers to collect, grade, market and sell British wool to the wool textile industry. As a natural, versatile, and durable textile, which is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally sustainable, wool from Britain is already used in flooring, furnishing, apparel and indeed insultation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support British sheep farmers.

The Government has committed to support the farming sector, including sheep farmers, through a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, including £2.4 billion in 2025/26. Our environmental land management schemes, such as the Sustainable Farming Incentive, include a comprehensive offer to support the management of a wide range of different grassland and moorland types that exist in England. They include actions to support the inclusion of sheep within an arable rotation, as well as actions to promote sustainable grazing management on moorlands and grasslands. The full list of actions available can be found on GOV.UK. Eligible sheep farmers in England can also access support to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. Furthermore, the Government is taking action to ensure fairness across the food supply chain to ensure producers receive a fair price for their livestock by bringing forward legislation to mandate sheep carcase classification and price reporting, bringing the sheep sector in line with the beef and pork sectors.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024 to Question 11126 on National Landscapes: Environment Protection, what steps the Government is taking to make National Landscapes wilder and g

This Government is committed to making Protected Landscapes greener, wilder and more accessible. We have just announced our intent to strengthen legislation, when parliamentary time allows, and this will form part of a wider package of tools and resourcin...

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Glis Glis (edible dormouse) on (a) indigenous species and (b) property; and whether he plans to take steps to reduce this i

An assessment of the risk of edible dormouse (Glis Glis) published by the Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat identified that there were potential impacts of edible dormouse on native species of hole nesting birds and on trees. It also identified...

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of trends in the levels of real terms funding to the Environment Agency between 2010 and 2024.

Environment Agency (EA) funding is closely monitored to ensure that the EA can carry out its duties and functions effectively. Since 2010-11, the EA’s funding has risen from £1.3 billion to £2.1 billion in 2024-25. This is a real terms increase of just ov...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether nutrient pollution will be within the remit of the Independent Water Commission; and how the Commission will interact with the rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Pla

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 go...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has (a) held recent discussions with local stakeholders on (i) when bathing water status applications will reopen and (ii) the consultation of bathing water stat

Both Defra Minsters and officials have been engaging with stakeholders before and following the launch of the public consultation. Following this consultation and analysis of responses, we will consider the most appropriate time to reopen applications for...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the adequacy of the powers of the Environmental Agency to (a) monitor and (b) maintain bathing water (i) status and (ii) quality.

The Environment Agency (EA) is the appropriate agency for monitoring and managing bathing waters in England. Their operational duties ensure the required testing and monitoring of bathing waters, and pollution risk forecasting during the bathing season. O...

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help ensure high quality water in bathing water designated areas inland.

Designated bathing waters are monitored by the Environment Agency (EA) throughout the bathing season which enables them to assess what action is needed to improve water quality. Sites which receive classifications of poor standard will be subject to an ac...

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 8075 on Floods: Government Assistance, for what reason her Department's Property Flood Resilience grant scheme was not activated i

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) coordinates the Government’s Flood Recovery Framework (FRF). Although Defra’s Property Flood Resilience (PFR) grant scheme is not part of FRF, it has always been activated alongside the FR...