Every parliamentary written question tabled by Liz Jarvis this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 27 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing mandatory method of production labelling for animal products; what assessment she has made for the implications of her policies of the findings of the public consultation on fairer food labelling undertaken between March and May 2024; and whether she plans to bring forward proposals to improve transparency for consumers on animal welfare standards in food production.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to improve the inspection of water infrastructure in Eastleigh constituency; and what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy, safety and long-term resi
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in (a) cookware, (b) school uniforms and (c) other consumer products; what comparative assessment she has made of regulatory approaches adopted by (i) France, (ii) Denmark and (iii) other countries in developing the UK’s approach to PFAS regulation; and what her Department’s planned timetable is to minimise the effects of PFAS while transitioning to safer alternative substances.
Steps to better understand the sources of these chemicals, tackle how they move around in the environment, and act to reduce public and environmental exposure were set out on 3 February 2026 in the UK’s first-ever PFAS Plan. PFAS Plan: building a safer future together - GOV.UK This includes actions on food contact materials, school uniforms and other consumer products. We are closely following the specific measures adopted by France and Denmark which will usefully inform the development of the actions we take forward from the plan. Our long-term vision is to work in partnership, taking a science-based and proportionate approach, to reduce and minimise the impacts of harmful PFAS on public health and the environment, including through the transition to safer alternatives.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review guidance and regulations on the promotion of hunting trips involving species listed as (a) endangered and (b) critically endangered at exhibitions in the UK.
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The Department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined. There are no plans to review guidance or regulations relating to the promotion of hunting trips at exhibitions in the UK. Where the import of any Appendix I or II species is involved, such activities are governed by existing rules under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 72871, on Water Charges, what cost-benefit analysis her Department carried out when choosing not to introduce a national social tariff for water bills in the policy paper entitled A new vision for water: white paper published on 20 January 2026.
The Government is working with industry to keep support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported. We are working with water companies to ensure vulnerable customers across the country receive support. This includes improving the guidance for companies to design the best social tariffs for their customers. We expect all water companies to put appropriate support in place for customers struggling to pay their bills and to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them. Over the next five years, water companies will have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs from 4% in 2025 to 9% in 2030. We expect companies to hold themselves accountable for their commitment to end water poverty by 2030 and will work with the sector to ensure appropriate measures are taken to this end.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether the proposed trophy hunting ban will include all species of zebra; and when her Department plans to publish what species its proposed ban will cover.
Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope for a ban on the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Timeframes for introducing legislation and details of its scope will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined. Species of conservation concern are listed primarily on Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) based on the level of threat that international trade poses to their conservation status.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her US counterpart on the proposed UK ban of trophy hunting imports.
Baroness Hayman met with a United States Government representative in July 2025 to discuss the UK Government’s proposed ban on imports of hunting trophies. The Government committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies in its manifesto and will deliver on this. The department engages constructively with a range of stakeholders, including other Governments, to understand different perspectives and ensure that we can implement a robust ban.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to coordinate data collection across (a) police forces and (b) other public bodies to monitor dog attacks on postal workers, and if she will hold discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a cross-government approach to protect postal workers from such attacks.
Defra is working with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to help prevent dog attacks. As part of this work, the Government reconvened the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce to explore measures to promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. The taskforce is considering improvements in data collection and reporting. We look forward to receiving its findings and recommendations in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has her department made of exisiting legislation to restrict illegal trade of birds of prey.
All wild birds of prey and their eggs are protected under UK legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Offences can result in up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine. Restrictions on the commercial use or trade of birds of prey are also in place under the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations (UK WTRs). Options for improving protections for birds of prey under the UK WTRs are being considered following a recent government consultation. Crimes involving birds of prey are a national wildlife crime priority. To support enforcement of legislation and help prevent and detect wildlife crime more broadly, Defra provided £494,000 to the National Wildlife Crime Unit in 2025/26.
Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on introducing measures to end the use of peat in horticulture.
The Government plans to legislate for a ban on the sale of peat and peat containing products when parliamentary time allows. This commitment is embedded within our Carbon Budget planning and, most recently, reflected in the latest iteration of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of dog attacks on postal workers.
Defra does not hold data on the number of dog attacks on postal workers. This information may be collected by the NHS, individual police forces and local authorities.
Food and Rural Affairs, in addition to banning trophy hunting imports, what further plans she has to prevent British firms from selling hunting holidays.
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern, which is the most effective approach the Government can take on this matter. The department continues to engage with relevant stakeholders to ensure that we can implement a robust ban. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of compelling online trade directories to require tradespeople to verify and display waste carrier licences.
We recently announced plans to tighten up the regulation of those who transport and manage waste services, moving them from a light-touch registration system into environmental permitting. This will give the Environment Agency a greater range of powers and more resources to be able to take action against those operating illegally. We will announce our further plans in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring into force the legislative provisions of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.
We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to review the welfare of racehorses sent to slaughter in abattoirs.
The Government has no plans to specifically review the welfare of racehorses sent to slaughter in abattoirs. The British Horseracing Authority introduced a requirement in January 2022 that all domestically trained racehorses must be signed out of the food chain, that is they must not go to slaughter in an abattoir, in order to race in GB.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the regulatory requirements of sewage treatment works that serve fewer than 2,000 people.
Through the recommendations made by the Independent Water Commission, Defra is embarking on a review of regulations as part of the Government’s wider commitment to regulatory reform.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Environment Agency on the enforcement of water quality standards in national parks.
The Environment Agency (EA) regulates to protect water quality standards across England, including within national parks. National parks often contain sensitive area designations such as bathing waters, Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) or protected habitats, which afford higher levels of protection and regulation. Any environmental offences in national parks, such as pollution incidents and breaches of permits or regulations, are investigated and enforcement taken in line with the EA’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy. Protecting the natural environment remains a priority, and we continue to work closely with the Environment Agency to ensure high standards are upheld.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the potential impact of breeding brachycephalic animals on animal welfare; and what steps her Department is taking to raise public awareness of health issues faced by those animals.
To provide a detailed scientific view on the range of issues faced by breeding dogs and cats, the Department commissioned two independent Opinions from the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC). One Opinion assessed the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices, and one on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. The Government welcomes the AWC’s Opinions and is carefully considering their recommendations. Defra also supports the work of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group which is comprised of academia, the veterinary profession and leading animal charities.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of his policies in tackling global deforestation.
We recognise the urgency of taking action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation. Deforestation associated with UK consumption is estimated to have fallen by 55% since 2005, although progress has slowed over the last decade. The Government recently published a Post-Implementation Review evaluating the effectiveness of the UK Timber Regulation (UKTR), which prohibits the placing of illegally harvested timber on the GB market. The review concluded that the regulation has been largely effective in reducing the risk of illegal timber entering the market and has contributed to tackling deforestation. The Government will set out its approach to addressing UK consumption of forest risk commodities in due course. We are committed to ensuring that any regulatory framework is robust, proportionate and effective in addressing deforestation in UK supply chains.
Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will (a) continue and (b) improve the Chalk Stream Restoration Strategy.
Cleaning up our waters, including iconic sites such as chalk streams is a top government priority. That is why on 23 October 2024, the Secretary of State announced the launch of an independent commission to fundamentally transform how our water system works. Fixing the systemic issues in the water system is essential to address the multiple pressures facing chalk streams, namely over abstraction, phosphorous pollution and physical modifications of habitats. Restoring our chalk streams to better ecological health is part of our overall programme of reforms for the water sector. Alongside this, we are continuing to direct investment to projects that will improve chalk streams. Through the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP), over 1000 improvement projects are planned within chalk stream catchments between 2024-2029.