Written questions by Robertson.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 31228 on Wolves: Conservation, tabled on 12 February 2025.

Question 31228 was answered on 27 February 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 29973 on Agriculture: Inheritance Tax, tabled on 7 February 2025.

An answer to Question 29973 is being prepared and will be provided as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2025 to Question 26637 on Food: Insects, what his policy is on the use of insect-based novel foods for human consumption to deliver net zero goals.

Defra is currently undertaking research on the insect bioconversion industry, including a life-cycle assessment to better understand the environmental impacts of using insect protein in pig and poultry feeds.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has conducted research on the potential links between fly-tipping and the availability of frequent and comprehensive household rubbish collections.

Research into fly-tipping commissioned by Defra, published in 2022, found that “Good infrastructure and services offered by local authorities will play a significant part in cutting fly-tipping at source”. The report is here. Local authorities are responsible for the operation and management of household waste collection services in their area.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance he has issued on using Community Protection Notices for household waste receptacles.

The Home Office, who administer the legislation for Community Protection Notices, have issued guidance on their use. This is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6422a19b60a35e00120cae63/2023_Update_ASB_Statutory_Guidance_-_FINAL__1_.pdf. Defra has issued guidance on using fixed penalties notices under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for household waste receptacle offences. This is available at:Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties - GOV.UK

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 24365 on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: WRAP, how much funding is being provided to WRAP in (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26; if he will list each of the projects, programmes and activities that WRAP has been commissioned by his Department to undertake; and what access WRAP gives his Department to its internal research and datasets.

This information is published by WRAP in its Annual report and Accounts. Defra’s funding for WRAP in 2025/26 is subject to internal business planning allocations . To ensure value for money, Defra has access to all WRAP strategic boards, working groups, evidence, research, and reports.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on outsourced private companies levying fines under section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for minor litter breaches.

There is no formal right of appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If an alleged offender does not accept their liability for the offence, there is no requirement on them to pay the fixed penalty. They may have to defend their case in court. As this is an informal process, there are no fixed grounds on which such a challenge may be made. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse states that “as a guideline, a single plastic sack of rubbish should usually be considered fly-tipping rather than litter.” Advisory guidance for local authorities is available on the use of littering enforcement powers which states that fixed penalty notices should only be used for the offence for which they were created. It also explains local authorities remain responsible for the entire enforcement process, even if they choose to use a private enforcement company. Defra is currently considering whether to make this enforcement guidance statutory.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 23782 on Domestic Waste: Disposal, whether an outsourced contract for issuing fixed penalty notices in a manner that is in breach of the Code is grounds for appeal against the issuing of a fixed penalty notice.

There is no formal right of appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If an alleged offender does not accept their liability for the offence, there is no requirement on them to pay the fixed penalty. They may have to defend their case in court. As this is an informal process, there are no fixed grounds on which such a challenge may be made. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse states that “as a guideline, a single plastic sack of rubbish should usually be considered fly-tipping rather than litter.” Advisory guidance for local authorities is available on the use of littering enforcement powers which states that fixed penalty notices should only be used for the offence for which they were created. It also explains local authorities remain responsible for the entire enforcement process, even if they choose to use a private enforcement company. Defra is currently considering whether to make this enforcement guidance statutory.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish each of the responses to the final Simpler Recycling consultation.

In October 2023, Defra held two consultations on Simpler Recycling, and has since published consultation responses for both online, including a summary of responses:Simpler recycling in England: additional policies - GOV.UKExemptions and statutory guidance for simpler recycling in England - GOV.UK Note, the Government has since published a policy update on Simpler Recycling (November 2024): Simpler Recycling in England: policy update - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to ban (a) three and (b) four weekly residual bin collections.

The Government has introduced mandating weekly food waste collections.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will ensure that councils are aware of the guidance entitled Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties, published on 23 April 2018.

The guidance, 'Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties' outlines the rules that councils must follow when issuing fixed penalties under section 46A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. We routinely point councils to this guidance when we receive relevant queries. Additionally, we are working with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) and the sector to provide further guidance and tools to support preparation for the implementation of Simpler Recycling.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 27559 on Domestic Waste: Recycling and Waste Disposal, whether his Department has (a) funded and (b) supported the Waste & Resources Action Programme to produce guidance on this issue.

Yes, Defra has provided WRAP funding and support under its Collection & Packaging Reforms and Resource and Waste Strategy programmes.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025, to Question 23782, on Domestic Waste: Disposal, what is the process and right of appeal against an outsourced company that issues a fixed penalty notice in breach of the Code of Practice.

There is no formal right of appeal against a fixed penalty notice. If an alleged offender does not accept their liability for the offence, there is no requirement on them to pay the fixed penalty. They may have to defend their case in court. As this is an informal process, there are no fixed grounds on which such a challenge may be made. The Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse states that “as a guideline, a single plastic sack of rubbish should usually be considered fly-tipping rather than litter.” Advisory guidance for local authorities is available on the use of littering enforcement powers which states that fixed penalty notices should only be used for the offence for which they were created. It also explains local authorities remain responsible for the entire enforcement process, even if they choose to use a private enforcement company. Defra is currently considering whether to make this enforcement guidance statutory.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25593 on Wood-burning stoves: air pollution, what assessment his Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned of the impact of the burning of household rubbish in the gardens of residential properties on air pollution.

No assessment has been made of the impact of burning household waste in gardens as there is legislation and guidance to prevent fires causing pollution or a nuisance.

Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) research and (b) data his Department holds on rodent infestations and problems.

Defra does not carry out research or hold data on rodent infestations and problems. Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in collaboration with a number of partners including the devolved administrations, publishes a Code of Practice for the prevention and control of rodent infestations on poultry farms Code of Practice: prevention and control of rodent infestations on poultry farms - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 18949 on Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal, what assessment his Department made of the potential impact of not setting minimum levels of service frequency for residual waste collections on (a) odours and smells, (b) insects, (c) rodents, (d) fly-tipping and (e) harm to local amenity as a consequence of councils adopting monthly bin collections.

Defra has not produced a specific impact assessment regarding service frequency for residual waste collections. Modelling for this would be subjective to the circumstances of each individual local authority. Through Simpler Recycling, all householders will receive a comprehensive and consistent set of waste and recycling services. This will enable householders to recycle as much waste as possible and to frequently dispose of bad-smelling food waste, which will be collected from all households at least weekly. Defra recognises that as recycling services are expanded and improved, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained. Defra have also previously commissioned research into fly-tipping, published in 2022, found that “Good infrastructure and services offered by local authorities will play a significant part in cutting fly-tipping at source”.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 24365, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: WRAP, what guidance (a) his Department and its agencies and (b) WRAP, funded by his Department has produced on the no side waste rubbish and recycling policies for household waste collection.

Under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, waste collection authorities may require householders to place waste for collection in receptacles of a kind and number specified. If householders do not follow waste collections rules, there is guidance on circumstances in which a waste collection authority can issue a fixed penalty notice or penalty charge available here: Household waste bins: when and how councils may issue fixed penalties - GOV.UK. Additionally, Defra recently published guidance on ensuring good waste collection services for households: Ensuring good waste collection services for households - GOV.UK. Waste is a devolved policy, and the devolved administrations have their own arrangements for household and business recycling and waste collections.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact of the findings by the Taxpayers Alliance in their report entitled One in ten councils in the UK are considering reducing their bin collection services, published on 4 February 2025 on the number of councils planning to make cuts to the frequency of household rubbish collection on (a) local amenities and (b) quality of service.

We recognise that as recycling services are expanded and improved as part of Simpler Recycling, local authorities may want to review residual waste services to ensure they are providing best value for money in line with local need. The Government’s priority is ensuring that households’ needs are met, and we expect local authorities to continue to provide services to a reasonable standard, as they do now. Building on existing and new legal duties, Defra has published guidance to ensure that local authorities consider certain factors when they review services, to ensure that reasonable standards are maintained. Councils and other waste collectors will still have the flexibility to make the best choices to suit local need. This is a sensible, pragmatic approach to the collection of materials for every household and business in England.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has a policy on the introduction of insects into the human diet.

Defra does not have a specific policy on insects in the human diet, but continues to monitor the research in this area. In Great Britain, edible insects are considered novel foods. Novel foods require authorisation before they are permitted on the market. As part of the transition in leaving the EU, the following products can continue to be sold whilst they go through the British novel foods authorisation process run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS): Yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor)House cricket (Acheta domesticus)Banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus)Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) Where the above are present, they would need to be included in labelling just like any other ingredient. No other insects can currently be sold for human consumption in Britain at present.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the re-introduction of wolves to the wild on biodiversity.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. No, the Government does not have any plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of the reintroductions of wolves to the wild on biodiversity. Defra has not assessed the potential merits of reintroducing wolves in England and is not aware of any plans to reintroduce them. Wolves are listed on the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, which means local authorities must licence wolf keeping, and they cannot be released unless into a secure enclosure. Large predators present some significant challenges to the environment around them.These would need to be overcome and managed prior to the consideration of their reintroduction. More evidence is needed on the impact of doing so.