Written questions by Morgan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of suspending tariffs on supermarket foods on British producers.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department has considered the potential merits of expanding Permitted Development Rights for agricultural developments.

Defra is exploring how to improve the planning system for key food and farming infrastructure and working closely with MHCLG, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver on these priorities. This Government is delivering the biggest reform to planning in a generation including consulting on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that would provide significant support to agrifood developments. This policy has been developed to recognise the need for investment in infrastructure to meet the sectors ambitions for the environment, animal welfare and economic growth. Major reforms to agricultural permitted development rights were brought forward in 2024. The Government is working with industry to help us better understand whether further reforms will be effective in supporting agricultural development in a way that aligns with Government’s environmental objectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessments her department has made of the benefits to a) the environment and b) animal welfare of a more supportive planning system for agricultural applications.

Defra is exploring how to improve the planning system for key food and farming infrastructure and working closely with MHCLG, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver on these priorities. This Government is delivering the biggest reform to planning in a generation including consulting on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that would provide significant support to agrifood developments. This policy has been developed to recognise the need for investment in infrastructure to meet the sectors ambitions for the environment, animal welfare and economic growth. Major reforms to agricultural permitted development rights were brought forward in 2024. The Government is working with industry to help us better understand whether further reforms will be effective in supporting agricultural development in a way that aligns with Government’s environmental objectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the war in Iran on (a) fertiliser supplies and (b) food security.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers with changes in costs of fuel and fertiliser due to the war in Iran.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the European Commission's press release entitled Commission adopts temporary State aid framework to support sectors affected by Middle East crisis, published on 29 April 2026, what steps her Department plans to take to support the relative competitiveness of farmers compared to their EU counterparts.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with ministers in MHCLG about further planning system reform aimed at supporting farmers and growers.

Defra is exploring how to improve the planning system for key food and farming infrastructure and working closely with MHCLG, Natural England and the Environment Agency to deliver on these priorities. This Government is delivering the biggest reform to planning in a generation including consulting on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that would provide significant support to agrifood developments. This policy has been developed to recognise the need for investment in infrastructure to meet the sectors ambitions for the environment, animal welfare and economic growth. Major reforms to agricultural permitted development rights were brought forward in 2024. The Government is working with industry to help us better understand whether further reforms will be effective in supporting agricultural development in a way that aligns with Government’s environmental objectives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help reduce the potential impact of climate change-driven food inflation on food security.

Defra is taking action to reduce this impact and support the continued production and supply of food for UK citizens. For example, we are actively implementing the third National Adaptation Programme which sets out a range of measures to improve resilience and adaptation to climate change across the food supply and farming sector. Defra works across Government to improve understanding of the drivers of food prices and their impact on households. This includes analysis of food inflation trends, engagement with industry to improve transparency where possible, and close collaboration with HM Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Health and Social Care to mitigate cost pressures on consumers, particularly those most affected by the cost of living. Defra also works to reduce unnecessary regulatory costs that can feed through to consumer prices.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock.

The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service led out of the Met Office has developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. These adaptation options include those which could be implemented in response to increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms such as using deep rooting and heat tolerant forage varieties. The Government needs long-term, nature-based solutions to manage the risks of extreme wet and dry weather. To support rural communities and farmers, the Government is funding actions to improve the environment, mitigate flood risk, and boost resilience, through Environmental Land Management schemes. Defra holds no data on potential impact of increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock. However, Defra continues to work closely with the sector to monitor the production of grass and availability of silage as a feedstock. The UK Government must prepare a UK-wide Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years under the Climate Change Act 2008. The third CCRA assessed the risks to and opportunities for agricultural productivity from extreme events and changing climatic conditions such as increased temperatures and heat. The next assessment, CCRA4, is due to be published in 2027.

Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to support dairy farms in North Shropshire, who fall within the highest area for heat risk in the country and face escalating climate-related challenges.

The Defra-funded Food, Farming & Natural Environment Climate Service led out of the Met Office has developed evidence on adaptation options which improve resilience of the agri-food sector, including cost and ease of implementation. These adaptation options include those which could be implemented in response to increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms such as using deep rooting and heat tolerant forage varieties. The Government needs long-term, nature-based solutions to manage the risks of extreme wet and dry weather. To support rural communities and farmers, the Government is funding actions to improve the environment, mitigate flood risk, and boost resilience, through Environmental Land Management schemes. Defra holds no data on potential impact of increasing heat risk to UK dairy farms on grazing land and silage production to feed livestock. However, Defra continues to work closely with the sector to monitor the production of grass and availability of silage as a feedstock. The UK Government must prepare a UK-wide Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years under the Climate Change Act 2008. The third CCRA assessed the risks to and opportunities for agricultural productivity from extreme events and changing climatic conditions such as increased temperatures and heat. The next assessment, CCRA4, is due to be published in 2027.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider reclassifying insects from the farmed livestock classification under Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, Article 3(6), to enable insect bioconversion for waste treatment.

There are no plans to review Article 3(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 that defines insects as farmed animals and therefore restricts their use in insect bioconversion for waste treatment. This is because catering waste cannot be fed to farmed animals. This position is set out in Defra’s animal by-products policy guidance: Supplying and using animal by-products as farm animal feed - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of a ban on colony cages on the agricultural land market.

In preparation for the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, the Government carried out a general assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment. The Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the amount of agricultural land egg producers will require to comply with the proposed ban on colony cages.

In preparation for the recent consultation on laying hen cage reform, the Government carried out a general assessment of the potential impact of the proposed reforms to laying hen welfare policy on the competitiveness and viability of UK egg producers and, as part of the consultation, sought views on that assessment. The Government is now analysing the consultation responses and will publish a formal response in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that imported food products do not use British branding.

All food sold on the UK market, including that which is imported, must comply with UK food labelling rules. The fundamental principle of the UK’s food labelling rules is that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable the safe use of food. Under existing rules, food that is not classed as UK origin cannot be sold or labelled as being British. Processed foods and composite foods manufactured in the UK are British products, but if these contain a primary ingredient that is not British then a British claim can only be made on the label if the label also highlights that the primary ingredient is not British. Food simply re-packaged in the UK, without any further processing, does not confer UK origin on it.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to accept the recommendation of the Farming Profitability Review to introduce a requirement that the use of British branding on country-of-original labelling for food projects is underpinned by robust assurance schemes.

The Government knows that many consumers value the opportunity to buy British and support their local food economy The Farming Profitability Review points to areas where additional assurance schemes and refreshed voluntary principles could add value. The Government remains committed to upholding high standards of food information, whether on food labels or within hospitality settings. The fundamental rule that food labelling should not mislead already provides assurance that non-British food products cannot be labelled (or implied e.g. by the use of a Union flag) as being British. Defra officials have been assessing the recommendations and as a part of this continue to look at how the origin for food products may be better highlighted to ensure consumers can make informed choices wherever they purchase food.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her department is taking to help ensure that risk in the food supply chain, for example in relation to drought and flooding, is not disproportionately shouldered by producers.

The Border Target Operating Model Impact Assessment frames economic analysis around business costs/benefits, check rates, and biosecurity risk. It does not model or quantify changes in food import volumes attributable to the post‑2020/BTOM border processes. Defra publishes statistics on overseas trade of food, feed and drink imports (Chapter 13: Overseas trade - GOV.UK). UK agri‑food import patterns are influenced by various factors, making it difficult to attribute changes to border processes alone. The latest official statistics show that in 2024 the value of UK food, feed and drink imports rose by 6.6% to £64.1 billion, with fresh fruit and vegetable imports increasing 12% over the same period.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her department is taking to help increase transparency in the dairy industry's supply chain.

The Government recognises the importance of transparency and fairness in the dairy supply chain, so that farmers and other suppliers are able to make informed decisions and receive a fair return for their produce. The Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, which has applied to all milk contracts since July 2025, established new contractual requirements between dairy farmers and milk purchasers. The Regulations improve fairness and transparency, requiring dairy contracts to include clear terms on pricing, termination and prohibiting unilateral changes. The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) has been appointed to oversee and enforce these regulations, providing a route for complaints where parties believe the rules have not been followed.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information her department holds on the profit margins for producers, processors and retailers at each stage in the milk supply chain.

The UK dairy industry is a resilient and dynamic sector operating in an open market where profit margins are established by the interaction of those in supply chains including farmers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. Defra does not collect or hold information on profit margins for individual businesses at any stage of the milk supply chain. Defra does, however, work closely with dairy sector supply chains to monitor the dairy market via engagement with industry stakeholders and through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group. Defra publishes information for England on the cost of production of milk in the Defra Farm Business Survey, and gross margins for dairy enterprises in England in Table 14.2 of Farm Business Survey Farm Accounts for England.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that UK egg producers are not undercut by egg imports of lower welfare standards.

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that imported egg products adhere to the same welfare standards as UK egg producers.

The Government has carried out an assessment and, as part of the consultation on laying hen cage reform, is seeking views on that assessment. The consultation also seeks additional evidence on how the proposals will affect egg production costs and current levels of imports and exports. As set out in the UK’s trade strategy, the Government will always consider whether overseas produce has an unfair advantage. Where necessary, the Government will be prepared to use the full range of powers at the government’s disposal to protect UK’s most sensitive sectors.