Written questions by Hollinrake.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the EU’s 2027 requirement that portable batteries in electronic appliances must be removable and replaceable by the end-user using commonly available tools on the implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act.

No assessment has been made on the potential impact of the EU Batteries Regulation on the implementation of the Tobacco and Vapes Act. We will continue to work with DHSC to identify any emerging impacts. Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of regulatory divergence between Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the EUBR's sustainability and hardware requirements; and what steps she is taking to ensure that such divergence does not create new non-tariff barriers for trade within the UK internal market.

Defra commissioned a research project to inform our ongoing assessment on the impacts of regulatory divergence between Great Britain (GB) and Northern Ireland on the EU Batteries Regulation. Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in GB and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department provides to businesses managing dual compliance requirements.

Defra is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the Office for Product Safety and Standards to develop new guidance relating to compliance with the EU Batteries Regulation in Northern Ireland. Webpages are kept up to date with the latest available guidance and information. Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the operational feasibility of retailers providing battery takeback services, particularly where products are sold through physical and online channels.

Under current producer responsibility legislation for batteries in Great Britain, retailers of portable batteries must already offer takeback services for waste portable batteries if they sell or supply 32kg or more of portable batteries per year. Retailers must have a collection point at their place of business; this applies to products sold in store and online. Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to (a) decide and (b) publicise that decision on harmonisation with the EU Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries.

Defra is working with the Devolved Governments to review the UK’s producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, my officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore the impacts of regulatory alignment with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain and will formally consult on proposals in due course. The EU Batteries Regulation applies directly in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to publish an answer to Question 118227, tabled on 5 March 2026, on Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Secondment.

An answer to Question 118227 was published on 16 April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what methodology the Animal and Plant Health Agency uses to determine the compensation value of poultry culled during avian influenza outbreaks; and whether this valuation is benchmarked against prevailing commercial market prices for equivalent birds.

Compensation is paid by Defra for animals culled by the Government for disease control purposes in England, as set out in the Animal Health Act 1981. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) makes its assessment of the disease status of the birds based on clinical inspection and veterinary judgment. There is no compensation available for sick birds or birds that have died. Compensation is not paid for consequential losses, including business interruption caused by control measures, nor for eggs or poultry meat. The amount of compensation is established by APHA using the relevant valuation rate card (or for birds or husbandry systems not covered by the rate cards, by a specialist valuer). The valuation rate cards are updated by independent consultants five times per year (in January, March, June, September and November) to ensure rates are in line with average market values for the types of birds.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment Ofwat has made of the potential impact of bills of family homes with gardens from the introduction of (a) seasonal water charging tariffs and (b) progressive water charging tariffs, further to evidence from charging trials introduced to date, and from the forecast effects as such tariffs are rolled out by water companies.

All companies plan to trial new charging structures by 2030 and some of them plan to introduce them more widely for additional customers if the trials are successful. It is important that water companies challenge themselves to develop progressive and proactive behaviours which will benefit households and consumers. The trials are still ongoing across water companies. The only trial to have concluded so far is Affinity Water’s WaterSave Tariff trial, the findings of this trial showed more people to have saved money than they had originally estimated. Further information can be found here. The Government is engaging with industry leaders to further drive progress in this area and supports the innovative approaches being taken to trial new charges aiming to make bills fairer and more affordable for their customers.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Water White Paper, January 2026, p.31, how will the reform of the WaterSure scheme be funded, and whether there will be a cross-subsidy charged on household bills of residents who are not on the WaterSure scheme.

This Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable and as such, is reforming the WaterSure support scheme. The regulations that provide for the scheme were made in 1999: The Water Industry (Charges) (Vulnerable Groups) Regulations 1999. We will extend eligibility to more households where a medical condition is present and increase support for up to 180,000 existing WaterSure recipients who could see a lower bill cap.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Water White Paper, January 2026, p.42, what the incentives are that his department and Ofwat intend to introduce for homes to adopt water efficiency, and whether this will include changes to water tariffs for households.

The Government is considering a range of incentives to encourage homes to adopt water efficiency. This includes enabling innovative tariff options through a rollout of 10.4 million smart meters in the next five years. This will also provide customers with improved data and communications on how water efficient technology and fixing leaks can reduce their water and energy bills to incentivise efficiency. Ofwat also offer a range of water efficiency incentives for developers to encourage water efficiency in new homes. Government is also committed to tightening water efficiency standards in the Building Regulations, following our recent consultation, and introducing water efficiency labelling on water using products to support this.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 96793 on water charges: social tariffs, what guidance Ofwat has given water companies on (a) whether tariffs from charging trials can be introduced without opt-in consent of the household and (b) whether households can opt-out of the trial.

Ofwat expects trials to follow its good practice principles, including strong customer engagement and safeguards. Companies must also consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place so that vulnerable consumers are protected or excluded from the trials.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 4 December 2025 to Question 94726 on Water Charges, and of 10 December 2025 to Question 96792 on Water Charges: Social Tariffs, what information Ofwat holds on the average cost of social tariffs to other domestic customers, across each individual water company.

In their PR24 business plans, water companies are required to explain how affordability support (including social tariffs) is funded. Companies must consult with their customers and organisations representing customers, to understand what an acceptable cross-subsidy is, and the eligibility for social tariff schemes. Some companies 'top-up' their social tariff schemes through shareholder contributions.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026, to Question 111526, on Water Charges: Social Tariffs, and with reference to the Ofwat, Summary of water companies' published plans for affordability for 2025-30, December 2024, page 9, whether the Ofwat estimate of the average cross-subsidy per customers for social tariffs of (a) £26 a year for all Waste and Sewerage Companies and (b) £55 a year for Thames Water, remains the most recent estimate of the costs of social tariffs on households who are not on a social tariff as a consequence of the increases in social tariff charging.

Government is working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. In total the sector has committed to contribute £449 million to social tariffs, debt matching, and other support schemes over 2025-30. Water Companies set the amount that they have committed to social tariffs in their company business plans up to 2030 in Price Review 2024 and this remains the most up-to-date estimate of social tariff costs. It is Ofwat's responsibility to independently scrutinise water company business plans and ensure that the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. Ofwat published their final determinations for Price Review 2024 (PR24) on 19 December 2024, which sets company expenditure and customer bills for 2025-2030. This will deliver substantial and enduring improvements for customers and the environment through a £104 billion upgrade for the water sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2026 to Question 101774 on DEFRA: Secondment, on what date is the secondment of the Second Permanent Secretary due to end.

The secondment agreement end date is 19 July 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of recent extreme winter storms on UK (a) Atlantic Puffins and (b) other seabird populations.

We have several policy delivery programmes that contribute to the protection and conservation of seabirds, supporting our mission on nature’s recovery. These include integrating seabird needs into our strategic marine spatial planning; management and review of our marine protected areas (MPA) network; delivering measures to reduce seabird bycatch; and pushing for seabird protections internationally. We have established a Seabird Conservation Coordination Group, comprising Government officials, experts, environmental NGOs and industry representation. This group is considering recommendations in Natural England’s English Seabird Conservation and Recovery Pathway report, and helping to coordinate, monitor and drive delivery of priority actions for seabirds across our programmes of work. We will continue to work with devolved Governments on next steps, including as they implement their respective seabird conservation strategies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help protect seabird populations.

We have several policy delivery programmes that contribute to the protection and conservation of seabirds, supporting our mission on nature’s recovery. These include integrating seabird needs into our strategic marine spatial planning; management and review of our marine protected areas (MPA) network; delivering measures to reduce seabird bycatch; and pushing for seabird protections internationally. We have established a Seabird Conservation Coordination Group, comprising Government officials, experts, environmental NGOs and industry representation. This group is considering recommendations in Natural England’s English Seabird Conservation and Recovery Pathway report, and helping to coordinate, monitor and drive delivery of priority actions for seabirds across our programmes of work. We will continue to work with devolved Governments on next steps, including as they implement their respective seabird conservation strategies.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 94727 on Water Charges, if she will provide a hyperlink to that information.

Price Review 2024 Final Determinations financial models for each water company can be found on the Ofwat website.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of changes to soil quality.

The Government is working towards improving soil health across England by measuring and monitoring the national condition of soil. Establishing a baseline is essential for evaluating change and identifying improvements or declines in soil health. National soil monitoring began in October 2023 under the England Ecosystem Survey, part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme. This five-year survey will provide a baseline of soil health in England, with Analysis Ready Data from earlier years published in December 2025: https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5610689568440320. This data will feed into a Soil Health Indicator being developed by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. A national soil health baseline will be published by 2030.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 94728 on DEFRA: Redundancy Pay, whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury approved the exit package of up to £350,000.

Flood Re is a company limited by guarantee. It does not receive any grant funding from the Government. As such, no Government funding has been spent on exit packages at Flood Re. Under the previous Government, Flood Re was granted an exemption from the civil service pay remit guidance for three years, up to and including the 2026-27 pay year. It has also received pay delegation for a limited number of senior positions over the same period. Flood Re has confirmed that this payment reflected contractual entitlements. As such, it would not be classed as a special severance payment requiring Chief Secretary to the Treasury approval.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 84665 on DEFRA: Secondment, whether a business case was made for seconding the Second Permanent Secretary; and who is undertaking that role in the interim.

The secondment was arranged and undertaken in accordance with Defra’s standard secondment approach. There are no interim arrangements in place to cover the role of Second Permanent Secretary. Responsibilities previously held by the Second Permanent Secretary have been shared across other portfolios.