Written questions by McCarthy.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will include representation from the organic and sustainable farming sector on the Farming and Food Partnership Board.

The first meeting of the Farming and Food Partnership Board took place on 25 March 2026 with an initial membership of seven industry leads and experts. This initial group includes representation across farming and food as well as the retail and out of home markets. The first meeting considered the need for additional members ahead of the next Board meeting. The first meeting also agreed task and finish sub-groups would be useful to help deliver the Board’s mission and objectives, alongside the sector groups developing Sector Growth Plans. Defra expects the nature of these task and finish groups to emerge as the Board gets into its work plan for the coming year. These groups will provide an opportunity for a wider range of stakeholders to engage with the work of the Board, and that could include organic and sustainable farming representation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that expertise in sustainability, agroecology, and nature friendly farming is incorporated into the development of the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan integrates expertise in sustainability, agroecology and nature friendly farming. This expertise will shape the plan’s approach to productivity, innovation and nature friendly farming, including the transition away from peat. Delivering this transition will require the appropriate primary legislative and supporting mechanisms to be in place to provide a clear and enforceable basis. The establishment of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board and its oversight of sector growth plans is a key part of that process. Following its first meeting, the Board has invited the Horticulture Expert Growers Group to work with the Fruit & Veg Coalition and the Environmental Horticulture Group and immediately begin work on the first Sector Growth Plan for the horticultural sector. This will ensure that the expertise and insights of the horticultural industry are fully considered by the Board.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to increase scrutiny of squid imports from China.

The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability requirements, to prevent fish caught through IUU practices from entering the UK market. The Government currently has no plans to increase specific scrutiny of squid imports from China, nor have we undertaken a species‑specific risk assessment of jumbo flying squid or Argentine shortfin squid. This reflects our assessment that existing controls apply equally across relevant imports and provide appropriate safeguards proportionate to the level of risk identified. Defra will keep its approach under review. In relation to the South-West Atlantic, Defra continues to seek progress on establishing more coordinated management of high seas fishing activity through relevant international fora. The Government liaise closely with the Falklands Islands Government in relation to this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the risk that jumbo flying squid imported from fisheries in the South Pacific and Argentine shortfin squid imported from the South West Atlantic may be linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and human rights abuses.

The Government is committed to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and addressing associated human rights abuses in global seafood supply chains. The UK has robust regulations in place, including catch certification and traceability requirements, to prevent fish caught through IUU practices from entering the UK market. The Government currently has no plans to increase specific scrutiny of squid imports from China, nor have we undertaken a species‑specific risk assessment of jumbo flying squid or Argentine shortfin squid. This reflects our assessment that existing controls apply equally across relevant imports and provide appropriate safeguards proportionate to the level of risk identified. Defra will keep its approach under review. In relation to the South-West Atlantic, Defra continues to seek progress on establishing more coordinated management of high seas fishing activity through relevant international fora. The Government liaise closely with the Falklands Islands Government in relation to this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the commitment to phase out the use of peat in horticulture is included in the sector growth plans for horticulture.

The Government is committed to ensuring that the Horticulture Sector Growth Plan integrates expertise in sustainability, agroecology and nature friendly farming. This expertise will shape the plan’s approach to productivity, innovation and nature friendly farming, including the transition away from peat. Delivering this transition will require the appropriate primary legislative and supporting mechanisms to be in place to provide a clear and enforceable basis. The establishment of the new Farming and Food Partnership Board and its oversight of sector growth plans is a key part of that process. Following its first meeting, the Board has invited the Horticulture Expert Growers Group to work with the Fruit & Veg Coalition and the Environmental Horticulture Group and immediately begin work on the first Sector Growth Plan for the horticultural sector. This will ensure that the expertise and insights of the horticultural industry are fully considered by the Board.

Food and Rural Affairs, what cross-government work her Department is undertaking to mitigate the risk of food shortages, supply chain disruption and food price inflation arising from global ecosystem collapse.

The UK has a resilient food supply chain and is equipped to deal with situations with the potential to cause disruption. Food security is built on supply from diverse sources, strong domestic production as well as imports through stable trade routes. Whilst the UK has a high degree of food security, the UK Food Security Report 2024 shows that food security cannot be taken for granted. Climate and geopolitical volatility have weakened aspects of food supply stability since 2021, although food availability or the quantity of food available to the UK has been maintained thanks to continued resilience in food production and the global trading system. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her department has made of the cost to local authorities of separating and incinerating waste upholstered domestic seating due to the presence of chemical flame retardants.

The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), to which the UK is party, requires that waste containing POPs above certain thresholds be destroyed, rather than landfilled. Research by the Environment Agency (EA) in 2021 revealed that waste upholstered domestic seating contains POP flame retardant chemicals above the legal thresholds. Local authorities are responsible for managing this waste in accordance with legal requirements, and they would hold information on their costs of doing so.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to align with EU REACH regulatory protections from chemical flame retardants.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan, published 1 December 2025, includes a commitment to reform UK REACH, to enable protections that address chemical pollution to be applied more quickly, efficiently and in a way that is more aligned with our closest trading partners, especially the EU, by December 2028.

Food and Rural Affairs, what legislative steps she is taking to introduce regulations under section 116 and Schedule 17 of the Environment Act 2021 on forest risk commodities in commercial activity.

The UK recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is carefully considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course. We need to balance a range of factors, including the broader policy landscape and relevant international frameworks.

Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from businesses on clarity on forest risk commodities regulation.

We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. We also recognise that this sense of urgency and need for clarity is shared by business. This Government believes it is at its best when it works in partnership with business, civil society, trade unions, and communities. We will set out our approach to address deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course and engage with stakeholders on this approach.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase production of domestic fruit, vegetables, pulses and legumes to strengthen the UK’s food security, in light of the findings of the National Security Assessment on Global Ecosystems report.

The Government is committed to the horticulture sector and its role in providing fresh home‑grown produce that helps to feed the nation. In December 2025, the Secretary of State announced the Farming & Food Partnership Board in response to the independent Farming Profitability Review led by Baroness Minette Batters. The Board will bring together farming, food, retail, finance and Government to take a strategic farm‑to‑fork approach to improving farming profitability and strengthening UK food production. It will oversee sector plans aimed at boosting productivity, reducing costs and opening new markets in ways that support health and environmental goals, with the first plan focused on the horticulture sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the safety and availability of public access to waterways for recreation and wellbeing.

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure that this access is safe and appropriate. As part of this, Defra has committed in its new Environmental Improvement Plan to create 9 new National River Walks, one in every region of England. The Mersey Valley Way will be the first of those nine new walks. Public access onto around 3,400 miles of our regulated inland waterways, including several of the larger rivers, is available through the licensing regimes of the navigation authorities that own or manage them. Defra is considering its approach to improving access onto unregulated inland waterways and is committed to working with stakeholders as this develops. The Environment Agency has published advice on how to stay safe while visiting waterways.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she expects further policy measures to be introduced to prevent biodegradable waste from entering landfill.

Reducing the amount of biodegradable waste being sent to landfill has a key part to play in tackling climate change. In February 2025, Defra published a summary of responses to the call for evidence on the near elimination of biodegradable municipal waste to landfill from 2028. We are developing options.

Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is working with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments.

We are working closely with other departments to coordinate delivery of the Government’s methane reduction commitments. Alongside the Carbon Budget Growth Delivery Plan, we published our Methane Action Plan detailing historic progress on methane abatement and key abating policies, building on the £63 billion announced at the 2025 Spending Review for clean energy, climate and nature. Through these plans, we are working closely with DESNZ and are exploring ways to reduce livestock emissions including through methane suppressing feed products (MSFPs). Reducing methane emissions in the waste sector is also a key focus. As we move away from the Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme, we will work with DESNZ to increase methane capture from landfill gas sites and are exploring a long-term methane capture scheme with a suitable transition plan.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will ensure that organic farming is appropriately supported within the relaunched Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, in the context of increasing trade balance for organic produce and levels of domestic organic production.

We recognise the importance of organic farming. The new SFI offer will continue to support sustainable farming by strengthening the environmental foundations of farm profitability. Healthy soil, clean water and thriving pollinators are essential to our long‑term food security. Farmers and food businesses will also have a stronger voice through the new Farming and Food Partnership Board, which will focus on removing barriers to investment, improving supply chains and supporting homegrown British produce. We have worked with Stakeholders to develop more detail on the new SFI offer, which will be announced at the NFU Conference in February, ahead of publishing full scheme details before the first application window opens in June.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will review current guidance under the school milk scheme to ensure consistency with NHS Eatwell guidance, which includes fortified dairy alternatives such as plant-based milks as part of a balanced diet.

This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Milk and relevant dairy products only are eligible under the School Milk Subsidy Scheme. There are no plans to amend the scheme requirements to include non-dairy drinks or associated products. The Government recognises that some children with clinical and dietary needs are unable to consume milk and expects schools to make reasonable adjustments for those with such specific needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential benefits to children’s health and inclusion of expanding the School Milk Scheme to include fortified plant-based alternatives.

This is a devolved matter, and this response applies to England only. Defra regularly reviews the administration and outcomes associated with the School Milk Subsidy Scheme, most recently following the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s assessment report of health benefits and risks of consuming plant-based drinks published in July 2025. Only milk and relevant dairy products are currently eligible for subsidy in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme and there are no plans to extend the scheme to include fortified plant-based alternatives. The Government recognises that some children with clinical and dietary needs are unable to consume milk and expects schools to make reasonable adjustments for those with specific needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce legislation to prohibit (a) octopus farming in the UK and (b) imports of commercially-farmed octopus.

The Government have no current plans to prevent the import of farmed octopus products to the UK. Defra is not aware of any plans to establish octopus farming in the UK. Any such plans would be subject to relevant existing regulatory regimes.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she will publish in full the Global Ecosystem Assessment report.

Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. The Government publishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, including on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 31 October 2025 to question 85098, when she will bring forward due diligence measures on forest-risk commodities.

The UK recognises the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. The Government is carefully considering the best regulatory approach to address deforestation in UK supply chains; we will set out this approach in due course. We need to balance a range of factors, including the broader policy landscape and relevant international frameworks.