Written questions by Morgan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of pressures on the sheep shearing workforce on (a) farm businesses and (b) the sheep industry.

With a national sheep flock of around 30m sheep, Defra recognises the good work that British Wool does in delivering training for domestic sheep shearers, the importance that shearing sheep plays in managing the health and welfare of the UK flock, and the continued challenges that both individual farm business and the wider industry face each year in sourcing sufficient numbers of trained shearers. We continue to work closely with the industry in addressing these challenges.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of changing US to UK import levels of (a) wheat, (b) maize and (c) ethanol on (i) food security and (b) agricultural businesses.

We have always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, our food security and uphold our high food, animal welfare and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do.For the first time ever, the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal has opened up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US market. The Government has been engaging closely with the bioethanol industry, and the Department of Business and Trade continue to work with the affected companies and wider industry. The UK has a highly resilient food supply chain, including around 80% self-sufficiency for cereal crops. Strong domestic production supports food security alongside supply from diverse sources and imports through stable trade routes. As internationally traded commodities, cereal supply chains are dynamic and responsive to global market developments in price and availability.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support British food producers facing competition from increased imports following the UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal.

The UK-US Economic Prosperity Deal (EPD) protects jobs in the automotive, steel, aluminium, pharmaceutical and aerospace sectors - sectors that employ over 320,000 people across the UK. Defra has always been clear that this Government will protect British farmers, secure our food security and uphold our high food, animal welfare and environmental standards in trade deals. That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do. Any agricultural imports coming into the UK will have to meet our high sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. For the first time ever, this deal has also opened up exclusive access for UK beef farmers to the US market.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to (a) maintain and (b) ensure the accuracy of flood gauges.

The Environment Agency (EA) operates a national maintenance and data assurance programme for its river gauging station network. This includes routine inspection, calibration and maintenance, alongside systematic data quality checks to monitor performance and identify any issues requiring intervention. These activities are supported by live remote monitoring, providing confidence that river level and flow data remain accurate and reliable. Together, they ensure that gauging stations can be trusted to support the EA’s flood warning services across England, including in Shropshire. Flood warnings are not based on gauging data alone. They are informed by multiple data sources, modelling outputs and forecasts, combined with the professional judgement and experience of trained flood warning staff, providing a robust and resilient approach to protecting communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the accuracy of data provided by flood gauges in Shropshire.

The Environment Agency (EA) operates a national maintenance and data assurance programme for its river gauging station network. This includes routine inspection, calibration and maintenance, alongside systematic data quality checks to monitor performance and identify any issues requiring intervention. These activities are supported by live remote monitoring, providing confidence that river level and flow data remain accurate and reliable. Together, they ensure that gauging stations can be trusted to support the EA’s flood warning services across England, including in Shropshire. Flood warnings are not based on gauging data alone. They are informed by multiple data sources, modelling outputs and forecasts, combined with the professional judgement and experience of trained flood warning staff, providing a robust and resilient approach to protecting communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will meet with representatives of the horse breeding industry from North Shropshire to discuss the impact of import and export processes on their businesses.

The Secretary of State’s private office handles all meeting requests. Please contact them directly to request a meeting.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to question 103472 of 6 January 2026 regarding border control, what her plans are for the 2026 breeding season.

Equine germinal products are a high-risk commodity and require 100% documentary and identity checks upon import from the EU under the Border Target Operating Model. For the 2026 breeding season, the Government will continue to maintain the existing system of official import controls. Specifically, all consignments of equine germinal products imported from the EU and EFTA will be subject to import controls at a designated Border Control Post; with the facilitation scheme available for chilled equine germinal products, where conditions apply.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the change in the level of the Canal and River Trust’s grant settlement since 2017 on the safety and integrity of inland waterways.

The current 15-year Government grant provided to the Canal and River Trust was adjusted for inflation for the first 10 years between 2012 and 2022, with the agreement clearly stating that the final five years of the grant from 2022 to 2027 would be capped at the 2022 level, which is £52.6 million a year. This represented 22% of the Trust’s total 2024/25 income of £232 million. The majority of its funding is from commercial and charitable sources, including its £1billion investment endowment. The Trust continues to have the agreed objective of reducing reliance on Government funding and progressively moving towards greater financial self-sufficiency by developing alternative income streams. A comprehensive review of the grant funding in 2022 concluded that there was a case for continued Government funding, and the new 10-year grant of £401 million between 2027 and 2037 will continue to support the Trust.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to protect watercraft operating on the canal network.

Responsibility for the safety of watercraft operating on the canal network rests with the navigation authorities concerned. Requirements for insurance and compliance with the Boat Safety Scheme standards form part of the conditions set by the navigation authorities for licences to operate on their waterways.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has produced a recent risk assessment for the impact of canal embankment breaches on narrowboats.

Responsibility for the safe operation of canals rests with the navigation authorities. In the case of the Canal and River Trust, Defra officials meet the Trust’s senior management team to discuss the Trust’s work and use of the Government grant funding, as well as engaging regularly with the Trust throughout the year on any matters as they arise.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing an emergency contingency fund to support (a) waterways-dependent businesses and (b) tourism in the context of the December 2025 canal breach in Whitchurch.

Defra’s relationship with the inland waterways sector focuses on providing grant support for the two largest navigation authorities, the Canal and River Trust and the EA Navigations, which between them cover around 2,630 miles of waterways. This support contributes to the infrastructure maintenance of their networks, while respecting their operational independence to manage their waterways for the benefit of businesses and tourism.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the structural integrity of the canal network.

Responsibility for ensuring the structural integrity of the canal network rests with the navigation authorities concerned. The largest navigation authority is the Canal and River Trust, with some 2,000 miles of waterways. The Government is currently providing the Trust with an annual grant of £52.6 million to support maintenance of the network infrastructure and has agreed a further £401 million grant for the ten years 2027-2037.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to reclassify equine germinal products imported from the EU as medium risk.

Equine germinal products are a high-risk commodity and require 100% documentary and identity checks upon import from the EU under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM). The SPS agreement, outlined at the UK-EU Leader’s Summit on 19th May 2025, will establish a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area, aimed at facilitating the safe and efficient trade. The SPS Agreement will cover sanitary rules and the regulation of germinal product, including animal health conditions governing imports. We are aiming to conclude negotiations and have legislative arrangements in place no later than 2027, subject to discussion with the EU. Regarding the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), we have been clear that compliance with the existing BTOM controls must continue until further notice, because the UK’s biosecurity and public health must continue to be protected.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to speed up the processing of (a) equines and (b) equine semen at border control points.

To protect GB biosecurity, official import controls are undertaken at Border Control Posts (BCP) on consignments of equine semen from all countries and equines from countries other than EU and EFTA. Import controls on equines from EU and EFTA countries take place at destination. Regular APHA audits of these import controls ensures that they are completed in an effective, considerate of animal welfare and timely manner. In recognition of the logistical challenges associated with the importation and official import controls at a Border Control Post (BCP), specifically chilled equine semen, a facilitation scheme was introduced by Defra and has been operating for the 2024 and 2025 breeding seasons allowing unimpeded movement of these consignments through the BCP.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will assess the merits of suspending mandatory border control point checks for consignments of equine semen sent from approved EU centres.

All consignments of equine germinal products imported into GB from the EU and EFTA countries are required to undergo import controls at a designated Border Control Post. A facilitation scheme remains in place to address logistical issues associated with the import of chilled equine germinal products. The SPS agreement, currently being negotiated between GB and the EU, will largely supersede the current import requirements and significantly reduce the burden on GB industry.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her department's food strategy will include measures to address obesity and dietary-related diseases separate to those announced in the 10-year health plan for England.

The outcomes set out in the food strategy include an improved food environment that supports healthier and more environmentally sustainable food sales, and access to affordable, healthy food for all, particularly those on low incomes. They also include valued regional and local food cultures, with people more connected to local food systems, with the confidence, knowledge and skills to cook and eat healthily. Defra is working closely with the Department for Health and Social Care on delivery of food-related elements of the 10 Year Health Plan. These include restricting junk food advertising, introducing mandatory reporting and targets for healthier food sales, strengthening the impact of advertising and promotions restrictions by applying the updated Nutrient Profiling Model, and uplifting the weekly value of Healthy Start by 10%. The Government is exploring options to create and promote a vibrant food culture at a national, regional and local level, to connect people to their local food systems and better support local and place-based initiatives.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk of African Swine Fever entering the UK.

Defra’s latest assessment for African Swine Fever (ASF) dated 1 December 2025, considers that the risk of the virus entering the UK remains at medium. We have strict measures in place to mitigate this risk. These include the listing of countries and regions eligible to export pigs and porcine products to Great Britain commercially, prohibitions on importing pigs, fresh pig meat, porcine semen and untreated porcine meat products from areas with ASF, veterinary health certification, and import checks at the border. Personal imports of pork and pork products are not permitted. It is also illegal to feed catering waste to livestock.

Food and Rural Affairs, what biosecurity procedures are in place for (a) detained and (b) uncollected meat consignments at UK border control posts to prevent the transmission of African Swine Fever.

All consignments of pork and pork products are checked at bio-secure border control posts to ensure that they have been effectively treated to mitigate the risk of African Swine Fever or they originate from a region declared free of the disease. Border Force with the support of Port Health Authorities carry out checks at the border to identify, seize and destroy illegally smuggled meat.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many consignments of pork meat and associated products originating from Spain have been seized at UK borders since 28 November 2025.

The seizure data for detained consignments associated with a specific disease outbreak is recorded locally by Port Health Authorities. Defra does not record this information centrally.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many seizures of illegal pork imports have been recorded at UK ports and airports in the last 12 months.

Defra does not record this information. Border Force, supported by port health and local authorities, is responsible for seizing illegal imports of pork at UK ports and airports.