Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Maguire this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 67 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Strategy, published in December 2025, when she plans to begin consulting on the phasing out of the use of CO2 in animal slaughter.
As set out in this Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with animal welfare charities on the use of CO2 in pig slaughter.
As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs. In developing the animal welfare strategy, Defra has held meetings with representatives of the farming sector and with animal welfare charities.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will have discussions with the horticultural sector to embed green space delivery in the Environmental Improvement Plan.
The Government recognises the importance of the environmental horticulture sector in promoting people’s health and wellbeing, and its potential contribution to our environmental goals. I have met with stakeholders including the Royal Horticultural Society and the Horticultural Trades Association, in recognition of the importance of this sector. Officials also meet regularly with the sector, including the Environmental Horticulture Group, a coalition of industry leaders from across the sector. These discussions help inform policy development and will continue to help us understand what support the sector needs to help it thrive and to best support delivery of the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the current Noise Regulations in protecting (a) animals, (b) veterans and (c) other vulnerable people from harm.
Protections are in place to avoid significant noise impacts through our planning system, environmental permitting regulations, vehicle and product standards, and noise abatement legislation.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had recent discussions with her EU counterparts on the potential introduction of multiuse pet passport for UK pets that are valid for travel to the EU.
As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on 19 May 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, which will mean taking pets on holiday into the EU will become easier and cheaper. Instead of getting an animal health certificate each time you travel, owners will be able to get a multiuse pet passport valid for travel to the EU. In the meantime, owners will still need an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret if they are travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of expanding access rights for (a) paddling, (b) swimming and (c) other non-motorised craft on inland waters.
The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for people’s health and well-being. We are considering our approach to improving access, including to unregulated inland waterways, and are committed to working with stakeholders as this develops.
Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to create new river trails for multi-use access.
The Government recognises the importance of supporting access to nature, including along our rivers. We are actively engaging with stakeholders to identify suitable locations for the nine new national river walks. Wherever possible, we aim to incorporate multi-user access to ensure inclusivity.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will give Environment Agency a responsibility for improving (a) entry and (b) exit points for inland rivers to help support recreation.
The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for people’s health and well-being. The Environment Agency currently enhances recreation where it can demonstrate value for money, by integrating safe river entry and exit points into flood and asset management schemes. Access improvements are typically funded through navigation service improvements, asset renewal, or new flood alleviation projects, often with partnership contributions. This approach delivers multi‑benefit outcomes; flood resilience, environmental protection, and recreational use, ensuring rivers remain accessible while safeguarding communities and respecting natural habitats.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set out a plan with (a) clear aims for stakeholders and (b) other steps to tackle issues facing chalk streams.
Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water industry. The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Subject to consultation, we will abolish Ofwat and create a new, powerful, and integrated regulator, including a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment. The Government is investing £1.8 million through the Water Restoration Fund and Water Environment Improvement Fund for locally-led chalk stream clean-up projects across affected regions. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029. The Government recognises that catchment planning is a vital part of improving the water system. Local Catchment Partnerships are a well-established way to plan and deliver improvements to water quality, manage quantity and reduce flood risk. Following the IWC report and the Costa Beck Court of Appeal judgment, we are moving to a catchment-based model and developing a targeted, ground-up approach to review and identify new measures in a small number of catchments.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve Catchment partnerships for chalk streams.
Chalk streams are embedded in our plan to reform the water industry. The Government has announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Subject to consultation, we will abolish Ofwat and create a new, powerful, and integrated regulator, including a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment. The Government is investing £1.8 million through the Water Restoration Fund and Water Environment Improvement Fund for locally-led chalk stream clean-up projects across affected regions. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029. The Government recognises that catchment planning is a vital part of improving the water system. Local Catchment Partnerships are a well-established way to plan and deliver improvements to water quality, manage quantity and reduce flood risk. Following the IWC report and the Costa Beck Court of Appeal judgment, we are moving to a catchment-based model and developing a targeted, ground-up approach to review and identify new measures in a small number of catchments.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase regenerative farming.
Regenerative agriculture is based on an understanding that the health of the entire food system is intrinsically linked to soil health.Healthy soils, rich in nutrients and organic matter, abundant pollinators and clean water, are essential for sustainable food production. We will support farmers and land managers to help restore nature, to safeguard our long-term food security, support productivity and build resilience to climate change.We are investing £2.7 billion a year into sustainable food production and nature's recovery. Overall, farmers and land managers will benefit from an average of £2.3 billion a year through the Farming and Countryside Programme and up to £400 million from additional nature schemes, including those for tree planting and peatland restorations. Funding for the Environmental Land Management schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing Thames Water into special administration.
There is a high bar for the use of a Special Administration Regime (SAR). The current law states that Special Administration can only be initiated if the company becomes insolvent, can no longer fulfil its statutory duties or breaches an enforcement order. The company remains financially stable. However, the Government is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready for all eventualities – including being ready to apply for a SAR if necessary.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to prevent illegal sewage dumping in chalk stream rivers.
Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to addressing the multiple pressures facing chalk streams. Restoring these waterbodies to better ecological health is a core ambition of this Government’s overall programme of work to clean up rivers, lakes, and seas for good. Subject to consultation, we will abolish Ofwat and create a new, powerful, and integrated regulator, including a regional element to ensure greater local involvement in water planning and allow all sources of pollution to be addressed across the river catchment. Our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan already categorises chalk streams as high priority sites, ensuring that they are prioritised for improvement as part of the record £11 billion investment to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows in England and Wales. Additionally, our protections through the Water (Special Measures) Act will hold polluters accountable and ensure these iconic British habitats are preserved for future generations.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the risks of flooding.
This Government is investing at least a record £10.5 billion until 2036 – the largest flood programme in history, which is projected to better protect nearly 900,000 properties. On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use Government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme. The Government has also set up its Floods Resilience Taskforce to provide oversight of national and local flood resilience and improve preparedness, especially ahead of the autumn and winter flood season.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle food price inflation.
Defra regularly engages with farmers, manufacturers and retailers to monitor the drivers of food price inflation and to encourage efficiency and fairness across the food supply chain. Alongside this, the department’s food strategy is developing policies to ensure that individuals across the country have access to affordable, nutritious food.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of pollution incidents did the Environment Agency attend in each of the last three years.
The Environment Agency (EA) responds to approximately 15,000 environmental incidents every year. Environmental incidents include environment management (pollution), waterways, fisheries, and water resources incidents. For each reported incident they assess the risk and likely impact and then respond accordingly. Not all incidents reported result in site attendance, a response can be provision of advice and guidance remotely. The EA seeks to attend all serious pollution incidents (Category 1 and 2) which pose a significant risk to people or wildlife, and those incidents which could escalate to cause more serious impacts. For example, in 2024, The EA attended 53 of 74 (72%) category 1 and 2 water industry incidents.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the Environment Agency increases its attendance rate at pollution incidents.
Ministers meet regularly with the Environment Agency Chair and Chief Executive to discuss performance across the Environment Agency’s remit.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve the regulation of water companies.
The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, examined how to strengthen the regulation and delivery of water services to better support long-term water security, sustainable growth, and environmental protection. The Commission's final report was published on 21 July 2025, and the previous Secretary of State provided an Oral Statement to Parliament in response. As outlined in the statement, the Government is immediately taking forward a number of Sir Jon’s recommendations. This includes establishing a new, powerful and integrated regulator with water functions from Ofwat, the Environment Agency, Natural England and the Drinking Water Inspectorate. This is not the limit of our ambition. The Government will respond to Sir Jon’s recommendations in full via a White Paper, and a new water reform bill that we will introduce early this Parliament.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of designating all chalk streams as protected habitats under a bespoke legal framework.
Chalk streams are a source of national pride, and this Government is committed to protecting these iconic British waterways for future generations. We have announced an ambitious programme of reforms to clean up our rivers, lakes, and seas for good: we will ensure that chalk streams benefit from this era of reform. Chalk streams are already recognised by decision makers in planning as valued landscapes and sites of biodiversity value. Local Nature Recovery Strategies, which are being rolled out across England, will enable decision makers to identify and protect chalk streams as areas of importance for nature. At present, 8 chalk streams have additional SSSI or SAC designation, which offers enhanced protection and the setting of bespoke environmental targets.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the Environment Agency increases (a) routine monitoring and (b) inspection of rivers.
The Water (Special Measures) Act has introduced independent monitoring of every sewerage outlet, with water companies required to publish near real-time data (within an hour of a discharge occurring) for all emergency overflows, matching the pre-existing duty and meeting the government commitment to ensure monitoring of every outlet.The Environment Agency (EA) has increased its water quality charges to £149 million from 2025-26, ensuring water companies pay the cost of regulating the sector. These charges include permit charges on water companies for inspections and the new enforcement levy, which will enable EA to recover the costs of their enforcement activity.The Independent Water Commission has examined how to strengthen the regulation and delivery of water services to better support long-term water security, sustainable growth, and environmental protection. The Former Secretary of State provided an Oral Statement to Parliament in response to the final report and government will be taking forward a number of recommendations.