Written questions by Wrigley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of existing levels of pesticide pollution on (a) (i) terrestrial and (ii) aquatic ecosystems and (b) public health.

A pesticide may only be sold in Great Britain if it has been authorised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following thorough scientific risk assessment. Pesticides that pose unacceptable risks to the environment or human health are not authorised. Defra funds monitoring that provides information on the levels of pesticides found in the environment, as well as development of the UK Pesticide Load Indicator (UK PLI). The PLI outputs help us to understand the potential pressures from pesticide use on the UK environment. The Environment Agency regularly test water sources across the UK to measure chemical and pesticide concentrations. The GB pesticide Maximum Residue Level (MRL) regime sets high standards of consumer protection to ensure that residues in food do not harm human health. An MRL is the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue in or on food that is legally tolerated. MRLs are always set below the level considered safe for people eating the food. HSE report that compliance is high, at 98%. There are very strict limits on the levels of pesticide residues legally tolerated in drinking water. Water company tests reported by the Drinking Water Inspectorate indicate compliance is high, at nearly 100%.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the effectiveness of existing disposal infrastructure for pesticides in the UK at protecting (a) the environment and (b) public health.

We have no current plans to make an assessment of the effectiveness of existing disposal infrastructure for pesticides in the UK. The Government’s first priority with regard to pesticides is to ensure that they will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. All pesticide users should follow good practice in the use, storage and disposal of pesticide products, and work to reduce the amount of waste they produce, as set out in the Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products. For all pesticides there are legal requirements to store the product securely, use it according to its authorisation (which will include conditions considered appropriate to protect people and the environment) and dispose safely of any surplus.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will (a) support and (b) meet with the community organisation Friends of the River Teign, in the context of South West Water's plans for tackling levels of overflow along the River Teign.

The Government commends the work of community groups in bringing attention to environmental issues, such as the state of our rivers. The local Environment Agency Team last met with the Friends of the River Teign (FORT) through the South Devon Catchment Partnership in December 2024. The next meeting is arranged for Thursday 6 March. It will include an update on water quality testing including additional monitoring of the Teignmouth Back Beach, Defra’s bathing water consultation, and wider Environment Agency work to improve water quality in the River Teign.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will submit an environmental information request to South West Water seeking to obtain details of the (a) testing and (b) monitoring they have carried out along the River Teign in the last five years.

Access to testing and monitoring data is vital for transparency and to hold water companies to account to deliver protections for our rivers, lakes and seas. There are a number of provisions to ensure that Government, regulators and the public have access to the information about discharges from water company assets. The Environment Agency undertakes statutory bathing water samples to test for microbiological water quality including faecal indicator organisms at Teignmouth Town, Shaldon and Ness Cove, and six additional freshwater sites along the River Teign, during the bathing water season. High readings will be investigated. This data is published on the EA’s Swimfo bathing waters website so that the public can make an informed decision before swimming. Since 1 January 2025, water companies are required to publish data related to discharges from all storm overflows within one hour of the discharge beginning. This data can be found on the South West Water website.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with the Environment Agency to tackle the flow of pollution from the River Teign into (a) bathing waters and (b) high-priority nature sites.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. The Water (Special Measures) Bill will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water also giving regulators new powers to take tougher and faster action on water companies not delivering for customers and the environment As part of the Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, by 2035, water companies will improve all storm overflows discharging near every designated bathing water, as well as improving overflows On 12 November 2024, Defra, with the Welsh Government, announced a consultation on potential reforms to The Bathing Water Regulations 2013. We are currently analysing responses to the Consultation and will publish a response in due course. This year, six additional freshwater sites along the River Teign are being monitored by the Environment Agency for microbiological water quality during the bathing water season. Additional monitoring will also continue at Teignmouth Back Beach following a sewage misconnection to surface water drainage in this area. In addition, Shaldon is a priority bathing water with an Action Plan for 2025 In the next investment cycle (2025-2030) there are plans for investigations to reduce storm overflows and improve permitted discharges, and improvements, including to reduce storm overflows.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department has issued on using (a) nature-based solutions, (b) salt-marshes and (c) mussel-farming to help reduce pollution in estuaries.

Natural England (NE) has been working with partner organisations such as the Environment Agency (EA) on a range of projects using nature-based solutions to deliver restoration of our estuaries, coasts and inshore marine habitats, including developing guidance for how this could best be undertaken. The Restoring Meadow, Marsh and Reef (ReMeMaRe) initiative led by the EA has published a range of useful guidance reports and restoration handbooks on restoring saltmarsh, seagrass and native oyster habitats in estuaries and coasts. The reports help explain the wider benefits that these nature-based approaches have both for nature recovery and healthy ecosystems. A recent report sets out our current knowledge on natural estuary and coastal flood management. These guides are supported by maps showing potential locations for restoration. The guides describe the wider benefits to local communities from restoring these habitats, including helping improve water quality. NE has also published evidence on where restoration would be possible for some of our most threatened and declining marine habitats through the Marine Restoration Potential (MaRePo) and MaRePo+ projects. In the Solent, we are aware of a project where oysters are being used as a nature-based solution to improve water quality. NE and Defra are part of a project which released 2000 oysters in 2024. There are some studies overseas that look at the use of mussels to help improve marine water quality although we are not aware of published guidance for UK waters. Defra published guidanceon how nature-based solutions may reduce flooding and provide the additional benefit of improving water quality. The EA published guidance on innovative permitting to water companies to enourage them to trial innovative wastewater treatment schemes using nature-based solutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the decline of wild bird populations.

This Government remains committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species including wild birds. That is why, on the 30 July 2024 the Government announced a review of EIP 23 and the intention to develop a revised EIP to protect and restore the natural environment with delivery information to meet the Environment Act targets. This includes reversing the decline in species and reducing the risk of extinction. Government actions to restore and create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042 will support a wide range of native bird species. In addition, under ELM we have a number of offers to support the management, restoration and creation of grassland habitats that support a range of bird species.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support nature-friendly farming.

The Government is supporting farmers to implement nature-friendly farming practices through a range of measures. These include habitat restoration and creation; activities to reduce the impact of invasive non-native species on sites or to address pressures on sensitive areas; improvements in water storage and management; and changes to limit emissions while maintaining agricultural profitability and increasing productivity. These measures will be delivered through the Government’s environmental land management schemes. This Government’s vision is a sector that recognises restoring nature is not in competition with sustainable food production but is essential to it. In the Budget announced in October 2024, the Government committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including £1.8 billion for environmental land management schemes in 2025/26. This is the largest ever budget directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history and enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help the UK meet its commitments on climate change adaptation.

Defra is the lead department for domestic adaptation to climate change, responsible for coordinating requirements set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. This includes preparing a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme. Defra works closely with the Cabinet Office in delivering this function. Our new pilot, the “Local Authority Climate Service” tool provides Met Office climate data to local authorities based on their specific geographic areas, empowering them to take more effective decisions based on their local risk landscape.Our new £15 million Defra-UKRI research programme ‘Maximising UK Adaptation to Climate Change’ (MACC) will fund world leading strategic research projects to help improve the UK’s resilience to climate change impacts.The Cabinet Office and Defra jointly chair the director-level Climate Resilience Steering Board with HM Treasury and key risk owning departments.Alongside delivering NAP3 we are committed to strengthening the nation’s resilience and are considering a range of options to better embed climate adaptation across the whole of government. Defra has responsibility for around half of the 61 risks and opportunities identified in the third Climate Change Risk Assessment, with a further eleven government departments having responsibility for the remainder.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to monitor companies responsibilities and duties to the environment.

The Government makes full use of the comprehensive and wide ranging environmental regulatory framework in England. There are many regulators involved in delivering Government environmental objectives, and the Environment Agency (EA) is the largest environmental regulator for England. The EA regulates a wide range of industries and activities, in diverse fields such as nuclear power, waste and resources, the water industry, climate change, flood protection. Its regulation brings about significant improvements in protection of the environment, adapts to emerging challenges and supports sustainable growth. The Government also supports voluntary environmental due diligence approaches adopted by UK businesses across their operations and supply chain relationships, in line with the OECD’s Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct. DBT also oversees the UK’s National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct, an independent unit tasked with promoting the OECD Guidelines and managing a non-judicial grievance mechanism to resolve complaints through mediation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help the UK meet its 2030 nature recovery target commitments.

The Government is working to achieve our Environment Act targets, including to halt the decline in nature by 2030. Delivering the UK’s 30by30 target on land in England will require a strategic approach, to address the scale of action needed, and ensure a diverse and well-connected network of 30by30 areas. Over the coming months, we will be developing a delivery strategy for 30by30, to ensure we make good on this important commitment. This will confirm the key levers that will help us to achieve this target and set out a plan to 2030. We hope to finalise and publish this strategy later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support wild bird populations in the UK.

This Government remains committed to taking action to recover our threatened native species including wild birds. That is why, on the 30 July 2024 the Government announced a review of EIP 23 and the intention to develop a revised EIP to protect and restore the natural environment with delivery information to meet the Environment Act targets. This includes reversing the decline in species and reducing the risk of extinction. Government actions to restore and create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042 will support a wide range of native bird species. In addition, under ELM we have a number of offers to support the management, restoration and creation of grassland habitats that support a range of bird species.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take legislative steps to prohibit the retail sales of horticultural peat.

I refer the Hon. Member to the response given to PQ 4272 on 12 September 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect blue carbon habitats.

In England, we have established a comprehensive network of 181 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which cover the majority of our saltmarsh and seagrass habitats. While blue carbon habitats may not always be an explicitly designated feature, MPA protection may still yield benefits. Our focus is now on ensuring that these MPAs are effectively protected to allow the designated features to achieve favourable condition. Three Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMAs) designations in English waters came into force in summer 2023. Two of the three designated sites, Allonby Bay and North East of Farnes Deep, contain blue carbon habitats.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help restore peatlands.

The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands, and in our manifesto, we committed to expanding nature-rich habitats such as peatlands. This will contribute to ensuring nature’s recovery, one of Defra’s five priorities. We have ambitions to restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of peatlands across the country, and we are working to ensure that we have the most effective mechanisms in place to go further than we have before. Peatland restoration is currently funded via the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, and going forwards will be primarily funded through Environmental Land Management schemes, such as the Landscape Recovery and Countryside Stewardship schemes. Private finance will also be vital if we are to meet our peatland restoration ambitions. To support peatland restoration, the Government is implementing a range of policies that will mobilise private investment. These include working with the IUCN to attract investment via carbon credits through the Peatland Code.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle the persecution of birds of prey.

Bird of prey persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife. Where any wild bird of prey is killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime. Defra supports the work of the national Bird of Prey Crime Priority Delivery Group, which brings together police, the Government and stakeholders from conservation and country sports organisations to tackle bird of prey persecution. Furthermore, Defra is a principal funder of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU), which helps prevent and detect wildlife crime (including bird of prey crime) by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations. Defra is providing £424,000 funding for NWCU in 2024-2025. Anyone who commits an offence against a bird of prey under existing legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 could face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of water butts in reducing sewage overflow in Devon.

Defra have had no recent discussions with water companies about the use of water butts to prevent sewage overflow in Devon. However, as part of a well-designed sustainable drainage system (SuDS), water butts can help in reducing pressure on sewerage. This Government is strongly committed to requiring standardised SuDS in new developments. These should be to designs that cope with changing climatic conditions as well as delivering wider water infrastructure benefits, reduce run off and help to improve water quality, amenity and biodiversity. It is also important to ensure appropriate adoption and maintenance arrangements are in place.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of snares on animal welfare.

Defra recognises many people in this country have concerns about the use of snares on animal welfare and bans have now been brought into place in Scotland and Wales. Wildlife management is a devolved matter which means that the Scottish and Welsh Governments are free to make their own laws in relation to snaring. Free-running snares are currently legal in England and are regulated by law. They must be checked at least once a day and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 prohibits the setting of any type of snare in places where they are likely to catch certain non-target animals. Anyone using snares also has a responsibility under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to ensure their activities do not cause wild animals or pets any unnecessary suffering. This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation and this included a commitment to bring an end to the use of snare traps in England. Defra is considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of combined sewerage systems in Devon on water quality.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. Storm overflows are safety valves within our combined sewage system to protect properties from flooding. The Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan sets stretching targets to reduce the harms from storm overflows. This ambitious plan is guiding future investment in sector. Water companies are investing around £12 billion between 2025-2030, a record amount, to improve nearly 3,000 storm overflows across England and Wales, and reduce spills by 45% compared to 2021 levels. In Devon, a large spill reduction programme of works will be undertaken by South West Water, in the next 5 years to improve overflows in the Exe river & estuary catchments. This will see improvements to Combined Storm Overflows, pumping stations & sewage treatment works. We are also carrying out a full review of the water sector to shape further legislation that will transform how our water system works and clean up rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of homes that use a (a) combined and (b) segregated sewerage system in Devon.

Defra does not hold the specific information on sewerage operations in different regions. It is the responsibility of the sewerage undertaker to manage its own operation, in this case South West Water.