Written questions by Wrigley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the impact of family farms on food security.

Defra does not collect any farming data based on whether farms are owned by a family. Estimates are produced based on the economic size of farms (based on Standard Outputs*). The latest estimates show that in England in 2022, a small number of economically ‘very high output farms’ produced over half (62%) the agricultural output using just 35% of the total farmed land area. Conversely, 45% of ‘very low output’ farms produced 2% of total output using 8% of the total farmed land area (Slide 8 athttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66e7e0b33f1299ce5d5c3ed9/Farming_evidence_pack_16sept24.pdf) We understand the importance of all farms, including family farms to food security; in delivering environmental outcomes; and in supporting rural communities. That’s why our farming budget will be maintained at £2.4 billion in 2025/26. Most notably, £1.8 billion of this will be directed towards Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes—which are the key mechanisms supporting sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in the UK. * Standard Output measures the total value of output across all enterprises on a farm - per head for livestock and per hectare for crops. For crops this will be the main product (e.g. wheat, barley, peas) plus any by-product that is sold, for example straw. For livestock it will be the value of the main product (milk, eggs, lamb, pork) plus the value of any secondary product (wool) minus the cost of replacement.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the NFU mass lobby on 19 November 2024.

Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks. We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security. It's why we are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. This enables us to keep momentum on the path to a more resilient and sustainable farming sector, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing. But with public services crumbling and a £22 billion fiscal hole that this Government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions. The reforms to Agricultural Property Relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) UK-US trade relations and (b) the incoming US administration on the agricultural sector.

The US is the UK’s single largest trading partner (with over £300 billion in trade) and the UK’s third largest export market for agri-food products, with trade worth over £2.5 billion. UK-US trade and investment is a vital part of this Government’s plan to deliver economic growth. As the Prime Minister set out our relationship with the United States has been the cornerstone of our security and our prosperity for over a century. The UK looks forward to working with President-elect Trump in office, including on his policy priorities and improving UK-US trading relations to support businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide adequate (a) funding and (b) resources to carry out year round testing for designated bathing water areas in the Newton Abbot constituency.

On 12 November, we launched a public consultation on proposed reforms to the Bathing Water Regulations 2013. A core proposal of this consultation is to move the fixed dates of the bathing season from the Regulations into guidance. This would provide the flexibility to amend bathing season dates based on local context, and for the Environment Agency to monitor outside the current fixed dates of the Bathing Season. Following analysis of responses, the Government response to the consultation will set out the next steps of this work, including any amendments.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on supporting a legally-binding global target to cut plastic production before the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, South Korea in November 2024.

On the 24 September in New York, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK had endorsed the Bridge to Busan declaration to support greater ambition on addressing unsustainable levels of primary plastic production in the negotiations for a new treaty to end plastic pollution. Further information, including the full list of signatories to the Bridge to Busan declaration can be found at the following address: https://www.bridgetobusan.com.