Written questions by Mierlo.

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 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, 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, 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 greener.

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 resourcing. We look forward to developing this package with our partners. We are also publishing new guidance for relevant authorities to make expectations clear in relation to their duty to seek to further the purposes of Protected Landscapes.

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 impact.

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 a risk of damage to property. Full details are available here: https://www.nonnativespecies.org/assets/Uploads/RSS_RA_Glis_glis.pdf To manage the impacts of this species, Defra plans to introduce a new action and capital item under the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) offer, under the Environmental Land Management Schemes. The addition of these items will support the management of edible dormouse in England. We plan to announce more details on the expanded CSHT offer this month. Additionally, the species is listed under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Country Act 1981. As such it is an offence to release or to allow the escape of this species into the wild.

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 over £250 million.

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 Plan.

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. The Terms of Reference for the Independent Commission are available at here.

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 action and improvement plan between the EA, local stakeholders and water companies. Defra also recently launched a consultation on reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. The three core proposals details in this consultation seek to bring the designation and monitoring process in line with how bathing waters are used today, and ensure it is fit for purpose for inland sites.

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. On 12 November, Defra also launched a consultation on reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. This consultation detailed proposals that included moving the fixed dates of the bathing season from Regulations into guidance and considering a sites water quality prior to designation. These proposals would allow the EA greater flexibility when monitoring sites and a more targeted approach to maintaining their status and quality.

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 status and (b) taken recent steps to review the cost of applying to the bathing water scheme.

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 new bathing water designations. Defra will publish new application guidance once the Regulations have been reformed and will ensure that there continues to be a clear and easy-to-understand process for applying for bathing water designation.

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 in response to flooding in September.

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 FRF. The September flooding was not at the scale where MHCLG, the Department for Business and Trade and Defra would expect to activate the FRF or PFR grant schemes. The PFR grant scheme has been previously activated where more than 2,000 properties have been flooded. The Environment Agency identified that around 1,000 properties were flooded across England in September. Affected householders should ask their insurance provider if they will be eligible for Build Back Better within their claim, which can provide for flood resilient repairs.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, on the potential impact of moving the Kew herbarium to Thames Valley Science Park on the study of (a) biodiversity and (b) extinction.

Defra officials are engaged with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on development of the New Herbarium Project proposal. Kew’s Herbarium collections are some of the largest and most important in the world, holding over seven million vascular plant specimens, collected globally over the last 170 years. The New Herbarium Project aims to deliver a world-leading scientific research and collections facility, both to preserve those collections in appropriately controlled conditions and to ensure the specimens are accessible to Kew’s researchers and the wider international scientific community. Science is the largest and fastest-growing department at Kew and exploring options for future science research infrastructure is important in anticipation of future changes to global biodiversity. Defra fully recognise the importance of the Herbarium collections, which Kew maintains both for the nation and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is supporting Kew’s Digitisation initiatives, which will ensure that 8.25 million plant and fungi specimens are digitised and made free for the public to access by 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the implementation of further protections for (a) nature and (b) biodiversity in National Landscapes.

The new Government is committed to making Protected Landscapes (National Parks and National Landscapes) greener, wilder, and more accessible. We are currently considering the best way to do this. To support this, Defra is working with Protected Landscapes organisations to improve data on the state of nature in Protected Landscapes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to meet the UK’s commitment under the Global Biodiversity Framework to reduce excess nutrients lost to the environment by at least half by 2030.

Policy in this area is a devolved matter. The UK Government recognises the need to go further on addressing nutrient pollution and supporting nature to recover. We have already committed to a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan which will set out how the Government will deliver our legally binding targets, including for reducing nutrient pollution. We are taking action to work with partners to tackle the main sources of pollution. For example, we are taking action to tackle agricultural pollution and deliver the Environment Act target through a suite of proportionate and effective regulations, advice and incentives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help prevent the spread of Brucella canis.

The Government takes biosecurity seriously and has taken steps to mitigate the risk of Brucella canis. Disease risk is monitored carefully and is kept under regular review. Defra made detection of Brucella canis in dogs reportable in April 2021. The Department has also published information for veterinary professionals and pet owners and has worked with stakeholders to disseminate advice and recommended actions to veterinary surgeons, rescue and rehoming organisations and dog breeding associations. Where necessary Defra have the powers in legislation to introduce preventive health measures to protect animal or public health by controlling diseases or infections that are likely to be spread due to the movement of pet animals into Great Britain. Defra will continue to monitor and consider any further actions as appropriate.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will amend the criteria relating to bathing water designation to include the (a) use of (i) non-motorised boats and (ii) paddleboards and (b) holding of (i) the Royal Regatta, (ii) events organised by Swim Henley and (iii) other such events.

Ministers continue to consider possible changes to the Bathing water system. In light of this, applications for designations for the 2025 bathing season which were closed by the previous administration, remain closed.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to provide grants for people whose (a) property and (b) business has been (i) flooded and (ii) significantly impacted by flooding.

The Government recognises that flooding is devastating for those affected. Protecting communities from flooding is a key priority for this Government. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) co-ordinates the Government's Flood Recovery Framework (FRF). The FRF, which includes support for businesses and households, and Defra's Property Flood Resilience grant scheme (PFR) can be activated in response to large scale and widespread flooding. Where flooding results in localised impacts, local authorities should provide support as needed.  Affected householders should ask their insurance provider if they are eligible for Build Back Better within their claim, which can provide for flood resilient repairs over and above the cost for like-for-like reinstatement of actual flood damage. The Government is determined to turbocharge the delivery and repair of flood defences, improve drainage systems and develop natural flood management schemes. That is why the Government set up the Flood Resilience Taskforce to improve coordination of the national and local flood response and strengthen preparedness ahead of the winter flood season. We are investing over £1.25 billion this year to scale up national resilience through building new and improving existing flood defences.

If he will meet the hon. Member for Henley and Thame and the Environment Agency to discuss the repair of Marsh Lock bridge on the Thames Path between Henley and Shiplake.

I would be happy to meet with the honourable Member alongside the Environment Agency to discuss this matter.