Written questions by Wrigley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Dawlish Coryton Cove.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Teignmouth Holcombe.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce sewage discharges at Shaldon.

For too long, water companies have discharged unacceptable levels of sewage into our rivers, lakes and seas. That is why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water (Special Measures) Act. The Act will drive meaningful improvements in the performance and culture of the water industry as a first important step in enabling wider, transformative change across the water sector. The Independent Water Commission, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, will make recommendations to shape further action to transform how our water system works and clean up our waterways for good. A public Call for Evidence closed on 23 April, with all interested parties invited to share their views. The review's final recommendations will be published and shared with the UK and Welsh Governments this summer. As part of Price Review 2024 (PR24), which runs from 2025–2030, water companies will be delivering record levels of investment. This includes South West Water delivering £764 million of investment to reduce storm overflow spills, including improvements at 10 storm overflows in Dawlish Town and Dawlish Coryton Cove and 5 storm overflows in Shaldon which are being improved to the maximum 2 spills per season standard. We encourage the public to report pollution via our incident hotline, by calling 0800 80 70 60 at any time.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help reduce e-waste.

This Government is committed to transitioning to a circular economy. We have convened a Circular Economy Taskforce to help us develop a Circular Economy Strategy for England. The Strategy will be supported by a series of roadmaps detailing the interventions that the government will make on a sector-by-sector basis, supporting government’s Missions to kickstart economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower. We are considering the evidence for sector-specific interventions right across the economy, including in the electronics sector, as we develop our Strategy. We have also introduced a ban on the sale and supply of Single-Use Vapes from 1 June 2025 meaning that from this date wasteful single-use vape products will no longer be available on the UK market. Later this year we will also introduce legislation to ensure online marketplaces and vape producers are paying their fair share towards recycling costs of their products when they become waste.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will expand agroforestry support to include (a) multiple species and (b) increased tree planting density.

Our in-field agroforestry offers under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes allow flexibility for land managers to decide on tree species and densities that suit their objectives, to realise the multiple benefits that trees provide in the farming landscape. Land managers are able to establish and maintain a wide range of eligible woodland and fruit tree species, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eligible-tree-species-elm-agroforestry-action. Land managers can also be paid a supplement under capital item AF3 (Species diversity bonus supplement) if they plant 5 or more species of tree, to help improve the resilience of agroforestry systems. There are no restrictions on the species of livestock that can be farmed within in-field agroforestry systems. Our ELM in-field agroforestry offers allow for a range of planting densities. Under the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, land managers can establish and maintain in-field agroforestry systems with an average of 30-130 trees per hectare on low sensitivity land. Our Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier offers will pay land managers to maintain in-field agroforestry systems up to an average of 400 trees her hectare. Above 400 trees per hectare support is available for woodlands via Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier woodland management actions and the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to adapt existing farming subsidy schemes to incentivise the (a) housing of all farmed animals in woodland and (b) planting of woodland in permanent pasture to improve (i) animal welfare, (ii) climate and (iii) biodiversity targets.

Our in-field agroforestry offers under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes include support for establishing and maintaining silvopastoral systems, where trees are planted in pasture to realise their multiple benefits such as enhanced animal welfare, climate change mitigation and supporting biodiversity. Under Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT), land managers can plant and maintain in-field agroforestry systems up to an average of 400 trees her hectare. Land managers will be supported to design their agroforestry in a way that meets their objectives through the Agroforestry Plan (PA4) capital item. There are no restrictions on the species of livestock that can be farmed within in-field agroforestry systems. The animal welfare considerations for accommodation used for farmed animals are set out in The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 with further guidance set out in the relevant species-specific welfare codes of practice.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) silvopastoral and (b) holistic planned grazing practices to enhance (i) carbon sequestration and (ii) biodiversity.

All prospective Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme offers were assessed for their potential impact against a range of environmental and cultural services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity indicators. The assessment was based on a combination of expert opinion and rapid evidence reviews and is now published. In addition, we have modelled the impact of different densities and tree species suitable for silvo-pastoral systems on carbon sequestration and a limited set of species indicators. These models have given us the capability to assess the potential impact of Environmental Land Management offers. Within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) there are a wide range of actions for the management of grassland, including herbal leys, legumes in grassland and management of grassland with very low nutrient inputs. The Sustainable Farming Incentive also includes actions for planning soil, nutrient and integrated pest management, which help farmers to choose the most appropriate practices for their farm.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will implement the provisions of the Environment Act 2021 to establish a due diligence regime for forest risk commodities before COP30.

The UK strongly supports global efforts to protect forests, including advocating for the international commitment to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030, while supporting livelihoods and economic development. We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect landscapes with literal heritage in Devon.

Much of England's culturally rich landscapes and the literary heritage they represent are found in our National Parks, The Broads and National Landscapes. These Protected Landscapes are already specifically designated and managed to conserve and enhance their natural beauty and important cultural associations, including relevant literature and the sites which inspired it, as key components of the natural beauty of the area. Protected Landscapes are extensively protected as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework which gives ‘great weight’ to the landscape and scenic beauty of Protected Landscapes. In addition local authorities are able to formally identify areas of local landscape value in local plans and the historic literary importance of a place can already be taken into account in development decisions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of US tariffs on the UK fishing industry.

We know that this will be a concerning time for UK businesses. That is why the Government has been focused on negotiating an economic deal with the US and we remain committed to these discussions. We are resolute in our support for industry across the whole of the UK, and we will continue to engage with seafood businesses to assess and understand the impact of these tariffs. In addition, on 3 April the Government launched a Request for Input from businesses to help inform the UK’s response to US tariffs.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to respond to Question 34414 on Climate and Nature Bill, tabled by the hon. Member for Newton Abbot on 27 February 2025.

Question 34414 was answered on 3 April 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 36240 on Zoos: Animal Breeding, how many civil servants are working on negotiating a UK-EU Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary agreement.

On 19 May the UK and EU announced the terms of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement that we will now negotiate, in addition to the Government announcing recent deals with India and the USA, and further deals in the pipeline. These deals will make agrifood trade with key markets cheaper and easier, cutting costs and red tape for British producers and retailers, and boosting exports. Defra’s trade staff work flexibly across trade deals according to demand.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April to 2025 to Question 41338 on Nature Restoration Fund, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a long term plan to help protect irreplaceable (a) peatlands and (b) ancient woodlands.

This Government is committed to protecting our irreplaceable peatlands. That's why we are investing £400 million to protect and restore nature, including our peatlands and trees including ancient woodlands. We have large 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. Defra recently conducted and published a review into how ancient woodland and ancient and veteran trees are protected by the National Planning Policy Framework. This revealed that the policy is not being consistently implemented and we are looking at how this can be improved. Defra is also currently revising the Environmental Improvement Plan, which includes actions to protect ancient woodlands.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to support the Climate and Nature Bill.

This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises. We do not believe that more legislation is needed in the areas of climate and nature, where there is already a well-developed legislative framework, especially the Climate Change Act and the Environment Act. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when its Second Reading debate is scheduled to resume.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 38216, tabled on 13 March 2025.

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Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 34414, tabled on 27 February 2025.

Question 34414 was answered on 3 April 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 38211, tabled on 13 March 2025.

Question 38211 was answered on 8 April 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to answer Question 36241, tabled on 6 March.

An answer to Question 36241 was provided on 25 April 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information his Department holds on the number of 16-week old puppies brought into the UK for animal testing purposes in the latest period for which data is available.

Defra does not hold the data requested. Imports data drawn down from the import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS) does not record the age of the animal. The Home Office assures that, in every research proposal, animals are replaced with non-animal alternatives wherever possible, the number of animals are reduced to the minimum necessary to achieve the result sought, and that, for those animals which must be used, procedures are refined as much as possible to minimise their suffering. Dogs are a specially protected species under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The Home Office will only grant a project licence for a programme of work using dogs where the purpose of the programme of work specified in the licence can only be achieved by their use, or where it is not practicable to obtain other suitable animals.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to reintroduce the Government's £50 reduction for customers of South West Water.

The taxpayer-funded contribution to the water and sewerage bills of South West Water (SWW) household customers ended on 31 March 2025. The rebate was originally introduced in 2013 because SWW customers faced significantly higher water bills than customers in other regions due to the level of investment the company was required to make in the region’s infrastructure to meet environmental and water quality standards. Over the last decade the difference between water bills in the South West region and others has decreased. Over the next Price Review period (2025-2029) Ofwat’s latest projections are that SWW customers will have similar bills to those in other regions. The Government is committed to taking action to address water poverty and help vulnerable customers with their water bills. All water companies have measures in place for people who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, including measures such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. We expect all water companies to proactively engage with their customers to ensure they know what support schemes are available and how to use them.