Written questions by Wrigley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Rural Payment Agency’s ability to handle the change announced to SFIs this week.

As the principal sponsor of the RPA, Defra works closely with RPA officials at every level to provide constructive challenge and support on RPA implementation of policy changes. The RPA’s ability to implement policy changes is well understood and comprehensive planning and discussion is undertaken between the RPA and Farming and Countryside Programme to ensure that changes are implemented smoothly, including external communications and customer handling. There is full confidence and understanding of the RPAs ability to handle the recent announcement on the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the funding for the new National Biosecurity Centre is being paid for out of the agricultural budget which was previously committed to go towards farmers directly as public payments for public goods.

The Government has committed to setting up a new National Biosecurity Centre to transform the Animal and Plant Health Agency animal health facility at Weybridge, investing £200 million to improve our resilience against animal disease to protect farmers and food producers. This is funded from a budget separate from the record £5 billion of funding in the farming budget for this year and next.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to help farmers that aren't receiving financial support from Government environmental schemes.

The Government’s commitment to our farmers remains steadfast. It’s why we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production. We have allocated £60 million to the Farming Recovery Fund for farmers affected by extreme weather, and £208 million to protect against disease threats. We have also recently announced further policies including extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years, backing British produce in government catering contracts, and investing £110 million in agri-technology. A new commissioner for the tenant farming sector will be appointed, and a veterinary agreement with the EU will be sought to ease export red tape. The government will also protect farmers from low welfare trade deals and lower energy bills by connecting renewable energy to the National Grid. Other measures include a land-use framework for food security and nature recovery, a Cross-Government Rural Crime Strategy, and a British Infrastructure Council to drive private investment in rural areas.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support farmers through the agricultural transition following the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period. Defra has closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for the submission of new applications, existing agreements will continue. Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed. We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed. Whilst we are developing the reformed SFI offer, other schemes will still be available. SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome. Funding from the farming budget also supports the provision of advice within the sector. The Farming Advice Service can assist farmers to review what advice and guidance is available to meet their business needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support farmers, in the context of the closing of the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme.

This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period. Defra has closed the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for the submission of new applications, existing agreements will continue. Every penny in all existing SFI agreements will be paid to farmers, and outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed. We will provide further details about the reformed SFI offer once the Spending Review has been completed. Whilst we are developing the reformed SFI offer, other schemes will still be available. SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome. Funding from the farming budget also supports the provision of advice within the sector. The Farming Advice Service can assist farmers to review what advice and guidance is available to meet their business needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support farmers that were intending to apply for the Sustainable Farming incentive scheme.

This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a two-year period. Following the announcement that Defra has closed SFI for the submission of new applications, outstanding eligible applications that have been submitted will be processed. SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package. We remain committed to investing in agri-environment schemes. We plan to launch the new Higher Tier scheme later this year; Capital Grants will re-open in summer 2025; we continue to move forward with Landscape Recovery; and we are increasing payment rates for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreement holders to recognise their ongoing commitment to delivering environmental outcome. Funding from the farming budget also supports the provision of advice within the sector. The Farming Advice Service can assist farmers to review what advice and guidance is available to meet their business needs.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive on (a) small farms, (b) upland farmers and (c) commoners.

We publish regular statistics on Farm Business Income. Farming evidence packs for example have been recently updated including key statistics and farm performance. These set out an extensive range of data to provide an overview of agriculture in the UK. We will continue to carry out appropriate and timely assessments of our interventions to inform policy development.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the spend on the agriculture budget (a) so far this financial year and (b) committed for 2025-26 including (i) delinked payments, (ii) agri-environment schemes and (iii) animal health and welfare, innovation and productivity grants.

The information requested can be found publicly available here.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the closure of the Sustainable Farming Initiative on food security.

This Government is proud to have secured the largest budget for sustainable food production in our country’s history, with £5 billion being spent to support farmers over a 2-year period. Farm businesses with existing Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreements or submitted applications will see no change to their payments due to the announced closure of SFI. Forecasts published this week suggest that at the all-farm level agri-environment scheme payments are predicted to have increased substantially in 24/25. Food security requires a long-term picture of resilience to shocks while the closure of SFI is a temporary measure, 30,000 businesses are already being supported through SFI with more in other schemes and will be for the next three years Now is the right time for a reset: supporting farmers, delivering for nature and targeting public funds fairly and effectively towards our priorities for food, farming and nature. This Government has recently announced a raft of new policies to help boost profits for farmers which will support continued food security. The revised capital grants will be reopened, providing access to items which boost farm productivity. We are extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years, backing British produce in government catering contracts, and investing £110 million in agri-technology. A new commissioner for the tenant farming sector will be appointed, and a veterinary agreement with the EU will be sought to ease export red tape. The government will also protect farmers from low welfare trade deals and lower energy bills by connecting renewable energy to the National Grid. Other measures include a land-use framework for food security and nature recovery, a Cross-Government Rural Crime Strategy, and a British Infrastructure Council to drive private investment in rural areas. The Government is also committed to making the supply chain fairer, with upcoming reviews on the pig, egg, poultry, and fresh produce sectors.

Food and Rural Affairs, how he plans to support upland farmers who were intending to move onto the Sustainable Farming Incentive following the closure of the scheme.

We fully recognise the importance of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for upland farmers – and we strongly want the scheme to be available to them as we move forward. We have closed SFI for new applications because the current SFI budget has been successfully allocated, with large-scale uptake of the scheme and 37,000 live SFI agreements delivering towards our environmental targets. We will be reforming the SFI offer to direct funding towards SFI actions which are most appropriate for the least productive land and have the strongest case for enduring public investment. We expect to publish more information about the reformed SFI offer in summer 2025. This will include an indication of when we expect to re-open SFI for applications. In the meantime, as announced on 25th February, we’re increasing HLS payment rates. We believe this uplift better reflects the contributions made by those with HLS agreements and will support the continued protection and management of these sites. We will also open the rolling application window for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier this summer and have published information that sets out what upland farmers can do now to prepare to apply for CSHT.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Sustainable Farming Incentive on meeting environmental targets for (a) species abundance and (b) improving water quality.

We have paused the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) ahead of reforming it. This is the third time SFI has been paused. We will confirm plans for the reformed SFI in the summer and we expect that scheme to contribute to these outcomes. There are also tens of thousands of farmers in SFI for three years, supporting those outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will (a) reopen and (b) ringfence funding for the (i) Higher Tier Countryside Stewardship and (ii) Landscape Recovery scheme in Devon.

The 56 projects in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Landscape Recovery scheme will be continuing. Plans for any further rounds will be announced in due course. On 11 December 2024, we launched the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier with applications opening this summer. To support farmers, we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years – more money than ever for sustainable food production.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has plans to support endangered species breeding programmes in (a) zoos and (b) aquariums.

Defra recognises the work modern zoos and aquariums do in promoting conservation and biodiversity, including participating in breeding programmes for endangered species. Under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, all licensed zoos in Great Britain must undertake conservation measures. These measures could include the breeding of wild animals in captivity, or the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals. Defra works with other countries and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to enable movements of endangered species where there are breeding concerns.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the upcoming negotiation with the European Union on Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary arrangements will include zoo breeding programmes.

The Government is committed to resetting our EU relationship, including by seeking to negotiate a SPS agreement. We have been clear that an SPS agreement could boost trade and deliver significant benefits on both sides. It’s too early to discuss any specific areas in detail and we will not be providing a running commentary on discussions with the EU.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will have discussions with international counterparts on changes to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement) to support (a) zoo animal transfers and (b) commercial farmers; and if he will have discussions with representatives from Shaldon Zoo to discuss the application of the SPS Agreement to the Zoo's work.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures sets the overarching international rules on food safety, animal and plant health. It does not contain specifics on the movement of live animals. For zoo animal transfers and commercial farm animal movements, Defra works with the officials in the importing country to ensure requirements are practical and achievable. Queries on animal movements can be sent to can be sent to imports@apha.gov.uk or exports@apha.gov.uk, as relevant.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has had discussions with the zoo sector on the potential impact of the UK's decision to leave the European Union on international breeding programmes.

Defra acknowledges the challenges faced by zoos and aquariums in Great Britain in transferring animals between GB and the European Union (EU) following the UK's exit from the European Union. The Department is in regular dialogue with the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), addressing trade concerns and works closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to prioritise and support these movements, particularly where there are welfare concerns or implications for breeding programmes. Defra remains committed to supporting zoos and aquariums in their conservation efforts by minimising trade barriers and addressing stakeholder concerns, thereby facilitating the smooth movement of animals between GB and the EU. An example of successful collaboration is the Department's recent work with BIAZA to develop a new system for ensuring the export of microchipped captive birds, including endangered species, to the EU. This initiative has played a key role in reinstating bird conservation programs previously impacted by EU regulations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to establish new offshore Marine Protected Areas.

In January 2025, Minister Hardy tabled a Written Statement committing to designating new Marine Protected Areas and/or extending existing Marine Protected Areas in Secretary of State waters to deliver strategic environmental compensation for unavoidable damage caused by offshore wind developments to seabed habitats. The location of these Marine Protected Areas is not yet known but some may be in the offshore area. There is a comprehensive legislative process required to designate Marine Protected Areas which includes gathering evidence through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England, and consulting with affected industries and communities before taking designation decisions. We will work closely and openly with stakeholders throughout this process.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to report on the (a) adequacy of and (b) potential impact of new free trade agreements on (i) fishing stocks, (ii) fishing fleets, (iii) nature conservation and (iv) natural capital at the outset of each new trade negotiation.

It is always the UK’s intention to enter into FTA negotiations seeking ambitious outcomes with regard to the sustainability and conservation of fish stocks and wider marine environment. The Department for Business and Trade’s impact assessments set out the potential long-run impacts of FTAs; including the associated environmental impacts on natural capital and fisheries.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help support businesses to meet their legal duties to the environment.

The Environment Agency appointed a new Chief Regulator, to deliver Government priorities to support business and sustainable economic growth, and ensure environmental regulation is future focused, effective and trusted. A key part of the Chief Regulator’s role is to act as a critical friend to the Environment Agency, ensuring the organisation is making the improvements it needs to and holding it to account. The new Chief Regulator’s report 2023-24 introduces the role of Chief Regulator. It summarises the performance of those it regulates, its own performance as a regulator, and changes needed to respond to a changing environment and support Government priorities.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will publish data on consumption emissions.

Defra publish the Carbon Footprint for the UK – including UK consumption emission figures. The latest data is available up to 2021 here : Carbon footprint for the UK and England to 2021 - GOV.UK.