Every parliamentary written question tabled by Martin Wrigley this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 245 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, what scientific evidence Natural England is using to determine whether a development has a potential hydrological impacts on hydrologically dependent Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including wetlands such as Wolborough Fen.
Natural England assesses all available information on both impacts and mitigation and uses professional judgement and scientific expertise to provide advice to decision-makers.
Food and Rural Affairs, to ask the Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what guidance her Department issues to Natural England on assessing hydrological risks to wetland Sites of Special Scientific Interest when providing advice on major housing developments.
This is determined by various legislation and the National Planning Policy Framework.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 115602 on Nature Conservation: Planning Permission, what monitoring requirements are required for developments located near hydrologically sensitive wetlands.
Any monitoring requirement would depend on the nature of both the development and the wetland’s protected status.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has issued guidance on the statutory limits that apply to the number of unplanned water supply interruptions permitted in a single locality within a calendar year.
This Government has doubled compensation payments and introduced a range of new standards to the Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) which requires companies to automatically make a payment to all affected customers if it fails to meet the standards set out in the scheme. An unplanned water supply interruption would be one such example. GSS payments are triggered for each interruption, and further automatic payments incurred for a continued lack of supply.
Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to water companies on installing backup systems to prevent pump failures following short-duration electricity outages.
Under the Security and Emergency Measures Direction (SEMD), water companies are required to maintain a supply of water during emergencies, including short‑duration power outages. The SEMD obliges companies to assess risks and implement appropriate measures, and Defra works with them to monitor compliance and preparedness for short‑term risks.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the resilience of South West Water’s infrastructure serving the village of Ashcombe.
Decisions on sewer provision sit with South West Water, but if the community believes a mains connection is needed, a Section 101A application can be submitted for assessment. The EA can support residents with guidance on compliance with the General Binding Rules, their Environmental Permit and Section 101A application.
Food and Rural Affairs, following the approval in June 2020 of outline planning permission for the NA3 Wolborough Barton development, including safeguarding conditions to protect Wolborough Fen SSSI, whether Environmental Delivery Plans or biodiversity‑offsetting mechanisms can be applied to development proposals affecting the Fen; and what criteria her Department uses to determine the appropriateness of such measures at hydrologically sensitive protected sites.
The Government's initial focus for EDPs is nutrient pollution, with Natural England currently exploring their development for a number of specific catchments. A list of EDPs currently being prepared by Natural England, and the areas they may cover, was published on 22 December 2025. Wolborough Fen SSSI does not fall within the catchments currently identified for the early nutrient EDPs.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment the Department has made of how current planning policy frameworks influence the advisory and regulatory role of Natural England in relation to large housing allocations affecting protected habitats.
Defra’s Regulatory Landscape Review, led by Dan Corry, was published in April 2025. As part of our work to implement its recommendations, we will soon publish Strategic Policy Statements for Natural England and the Environment Agency. These will set out expectations for their contribution towards our growth mission, particularly around reaching our ambitious homebuilding targets and fast-tracking major infrastructure projects. The Corry review and the 2025 Post-Implementation Review of the Habitats Regulations both concluded that improvements could be made to the functioning of the Habitats Regulations. We are working with stakeholders to improve guidance on Habitats Regulations Assessments, including clarifying the respective roles of Natural England as a statutory consultee and planning authorities as decision makers on planning applications. Natural England is a statutory consultee on planning applications and offers advice and guidance to planning authorities, but planning authorities are ultimately responsible for planning decisions, including imposing planning conditions where necessary to make development acceptable. The National Planning Policy Framework reinforces statutory protections, including by setting out how planning conditions should be used.
Food and Rural Affairs, what specific targets the Department has set for improving the condition of SSSIs within Dartmoor National Park during this Parliament.
The Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 sets out an interim target for 50% of SSSI features to have actions on track by 2030, alongside a long‑term ambition for 75% of protected sites to be in favourable condition by 2042. The 50% of actions on track interim target will actively help improve the condition of SSSIs, including those in the Dartmoor National Park. The Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework sets the ambition for 80% of all SSSIs within protected landscapes, which includes the Dartmoor National Park, to be in favourable condition by 2042. Natural England has also committed to completing updated condition assessments for all SSSIs by 2032. This will provide the evidence needed to target interventions effectively and inform future management decisions on Dartmoor and elsewhere.
Food and Rural Affairs, what information Natural England is required to publish regarding its engagement with developers and planning authorities in cases involving Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Natural England (NE) is a statutory consultee under the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 in respect of development that is within, or likely to affect, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There is no statutory requirement for NE to publish its engagement with developers or local planning authorities when exercising this function. Local planning authorities are required to maintain a public planning register. While statutory consultee responses are commonly included, there is no explicit duty for them to publish such information.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the economic viability of upland farms on Dartmoor following the withdrawal of Basic Payment Scheme support.
Defra does not hold data on the viability of upland farms on Dartmoor. Defra’s annual Farm Business Survey only has information on the Farm Business Income of grazing livestock farms in Less Favoured Areas in England, but results are not available at any lower geographic level. Results are published at: Farm Business Survey - GOV.UK
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of stewardship payments in delivering measurable biodiversity outcomes on upland commons.
Stewardship payments through Environmental and Countryside Stewardship help support restoration of nature and ensure habitats are resilient including on upland commons. Through the recently published Environmental Improvement Plan, the Government is committed to improving these sites with a target that by December 2030 50% of Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) features have actions on track to achieve favourable condition. Defra’s Agri-Environment Evidence Programme conducts research that improves our schemes with targeted projects to explore Agri-environment scheme (AES) impacts over an ecologically meaningful timescale. One recent study of AES impact on SSSI upland dwarf heath sites identified that two primary factors affecting condition are burning frequency and stock management. AES are crucial to supporting farmers and land managers in taking action to improve the condition of SSSIs, such as addressing water pollution, changing grazing regimes and tackling invasive species.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of whether existing policy guidance provides Natural England with sufficient powers to prevent cumulative ecological impacts on protected wetlands arising from strategic housing allocations.
Defra’s Regulatory Landscape Review, led by Dan Corry, was published in April 2025. As part of our work to implement its recommendations, we will soon publish Strategic Policy Statements for Natural England and the Environment Agency. These will set out expectations for their contribution towards our growth mission, particularly around reaching our ambitious homebuilding targets and fast-tracking major infrastructure projects. The Corry review and the 2025 Post-Implementation Review of the Habitats Regulations both concluded that improvements could be made to the functioning of the Habitats Regulations. We are working with stakeholders to improve guidance on Habitats Regulations Assessments, including clarifying the respective roles of Natural England as a statutory consultee and planning authorities as decision makers on planning applications. Natural England is a statutory consultee on planning applications and offers advice and guidance to planning authorities, but planning authorities are ultimately responsible for planning decisions, including imposing planning conditions where necessary to make development acceptable. The National Planning Policy Framework reinforces statutory protections, including by setting out how planning conditions should be used.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has held with the Dartmoor National Park Authority and Natural England regarding governance arrangements for commons management.
Minister Creagh visited Dartmoor National Park in April 2025 to hear about the work of the National Park Authority. Defra also has annual review meetings with each National Park Authority, including Dartmoor, to look at delivery and management of National Park outcomes.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Department plans to review legislative frameworks governing commons management in protected landscapes.
The department has no plans to review legislative frameworks governing commons management in protected landscapes.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether coastal resilience funding will be made available for the restoration and protection of Teignmouth pier.
Whilst Defra recognises the importance of Teignmouth Pier to the town and visitors alike, the department understands the pier is privately owned and therefore the responsibility to maintain it rests with the owners. The Environment Agency (EA) met with the owners of the pier in 2022 to explain this situation. Flood Defence Grant in Aid is focused on the repair of flood defences. The EA and Teignbridge District Council are working closely to secure government funding to replace the timber groynes along the beach at Teignmouth and refurbishment of the seawall around the pier to maintain protection to the community.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot during the Oral Statement of 21 January 2026 on Water White Paper, Official Report column 347, if he will hold discussions with the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on the risk of water shortages in the South West this summer.
I would be happy to meet the hon. Member to discuss this matter.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to review and reform Dartmoor Commons legislation this Parliament.
There is no commitment or timescale for implementing a review or reform of provisions as set out in the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to increase the corresponding recreational bag limit when commercial bass catch limits are increased.
Annual negotiations between the UK and EU to decide fishing opportunities for 2026 have recently concluded. The outcome for both commercial and recreational seabass opportunities will be made public shortly.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to lay before Parliament final regulations and statutory guidance to implement mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Biodiversity net gain will apply to nationally significant infrastructure projects from May 2026. The Government consulted on the implementation detail over the summer and will publish a response and other relevant guidance in due course.