Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of an El Niño weather event on (a) food security and (b) critical infrastructure in the UK.
Reply
Awaiting answer.
The Westminster lensArchive · Written questions · 43 tabled · 39 answered
Written questions by Spencer.
Every parliamentary written question tabled by Hannah Spencer this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Department:All (43)Department of Health and Social Care (7)Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (7)Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (6)Department for Education (5)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (5)Home Office (4)Ministry of Justice (3)Department for Work and Pensions (3)Department for Transport (1)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (1)Treasury (1)
Showing 1–7 of 7 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2026 to Question 3739, how many allegations of piglet thumping were investigated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in each of the last 3 yea
Reply
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) take all complaints of illegal slaughter, other forms of on-farm killing and serious breaches of animal welfare, seriously. On receipt of a complaint, APHA will triage the details provided to determine the action ...
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his plan for a Poultry Sector Growth Plan, what assessment he has made of the potential health risks of air pollution linked to ammonia emissions from poultry facilit
Reply
Ammonia from poultry farms contributes to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution concentrations across the country. The precise contribution is difficult to assess and will vary according to the prevailing weather conditions and other sources of PM2.5....
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take legislative steps to make the Water Restoration Fund a long-term legal entity in the proposed Clean Water Bill.
Reply
The recipients of the Water Restoration Fund were announced in October 2025, with projects due to be completed by March 2028. The most recent tranche of water company fines, as announced alongside the White Paper in January, is being allocated to catchmen...
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the extent and (b) impact on pig welfare of pig thumping in the pig industry.
Reply
Piglet thumping (a manual percussive blow to the head) it is not a permitted method for stunning or killing piglets due to serious concerns about the welfare consequences. The Department is engaging with the industry to encourage use of alternative humane...
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Ninth Report of the Environmental Audit Committee of Session 2024-26 on Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), HC 852, pu
Reply
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’, represent one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. On 3 February 2026, the Government fulfilled its commitment from the revised Environmental Improveme...
Asked
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU SPS Agreement on the UK's ability to unilaterally ban the import and sale of fur products.
Reply
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. Negotiations with the EU on the SPS agreement are underway. While those discussions are ongoing, we cannot provide a running commentary, but we have been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards.
Sources
SourceUK Parliament Members API
MethodQuestion and answer text as published. Question preamble (“To ask the…”) trimmed for readability; answers shown in full.