Written questions by Smith.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to integrate biogas into its circular-economy strategy.

This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy and has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation later in the year. As we develop the strategy, we will consider the evidence for action right across the economy, and alongside the Circular Economy Taskforce we will assess what interventions may be needed regarding biogas. The government has already taken steps to support the production of biogas from waste. As part of Simpler Recycling, in England food waste collections are required from all workplaces (except micro-firms), from all households by 31st March 2026 and from all micro-firms (with less than 10 FTE) from 31st March 2027. This must always be collected separately from residual waste and dry recyclable materials. Collecting food waste separately from residual waste allows us to send it for treatment via anaerobic digestion (AD) or composting. This reduces the amount of food waste going to landfill, where it releases harmful greenhouse gases and, helping to achieve our Net Zero strategy target to eliminate biodegradable waste sent to landfill from 2028. We forecast Simpler Recycling will increase the amount of food waste collected in England for recycling or composting by 100% to 4.8Mt by 2035. This will provide increased feedstock for anaerobic digestion, supporting Government initiatives to support the AD sector. The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) provides tariff-support for biomethane produced via anaerobic digestion and injected into the gas grid. The scheme requires 50% of biomethane (by energy content) to be produced from wastes and residues, which is expected to support treatment of increased tonnage of food waste. In February 2024 DESNZ issued a call for evidence (CfE) to assess the barriers to growth in the sector and the options available to address them. DESNZ is considering the responses received and are developing policy options on a future framework that supports growth in the sector while managing environmental risks effectively.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the role of anaerobic digestion to secure rural economic growth.

British farmers are world-leaders and know their own land best - carefully planning their planting to suit the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy. It is not Government policy to determine which crops farmers should prioritise to include in their crop rotation. We will continue to support farmers, so they can make the right decisions for them and the productivity of their land. The demand for UK produced crops is subject to global market prices and supply. Crop varieties grown in the UK can be of a specification for food, feed and bioenergy standards, so that there is in-built flexibility for farmers to ensure an end-use market for their product. The development of anaerobic digestion plants creates jobs and economic growth. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s most recent analysis shows that over two thirds of existing biomethane anaerobic digestion plants are located in rural areas. Biomethane production via anaerobic digestion is currently supported by the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS). It is estimated that when taking into account both direct and indirect jobs, the GGSS could support up to 1,600 jobs per annum during the construction phase of plants, and up to 1,000 jobs during the lifetime of the plants (assumed to be 20 years).

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage crop-based biomethane to support regenerative farming practices.

British farmers are world-leaders and know their own land best - carefully planning their planting to suit the weather, their soil type, and their long-term agronomic strategy. It is not Government policy to determine which crops farmers should prioritise to include in their crop rotation. We will continue to support farmers, so they can make the right decisions for them and the productivity of their land.The Government currently supports biomethane production through the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS). The GGSS will close for new applications in Spring 2028, and the Government is planning to consult on policy options for a future framework for biomethane during financial year 2025/26.