Every parliamentary written question tabled by Neil Duncan-Jordan this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 21–40 of 108 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, what timescale her Department has for banning trophy hunting imports.
The Government is committed to banning the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Timeframes for introducing legislation will be provided once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is determined.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the health of the sea horse population in Poole harbour.
Protected sites do afford some protection to habitats associated with seahorses. Seahorses are also a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981; but the legislation makes no provision for monitoring or reporting on the condition of the population. Seahorses are known to be present in Poole Harbour and seahorse surveys have been carried out by the Seahorse Trust; evidence of their presence has also been identified from surveys not focused on the species. Collectively the evidence indicates a resident population of seahorses found year-round in the harbour.
Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish a consultation on trail hunting; and with which organisations she plans to discuss the scope.
This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Defra will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to amend regulations on the pay of water company executives.
Water company executives are now required to meet high standards relating to consumer and environmental matters, and financial resilience. In June 2025, unfair bonuses at six companies were banned.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will amend water company regulations to ensure that companies banned from making bonus payments are not able to continue doing so.
Water company executives are now required to meet high standards relating to consumer and environmental matters, and financial resilience. In June 2025, unfair bonuses at six companies were banned.
Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will investigate payments made to the (a) Chief Executive and (b) Chief Financial Officer of Wessex Water in the year up to June 2025.
Ofwat has reviewed water companies' compliance with its performance related executive pay Prohibition Rule for bonuses paid to directors who are members of the regulated company's board in relation to the 2024-25 financial year. Ofwat reported on its assessment of companies who had triggered the rule, including Wessex Water, in November 2025: Performance-related-executive-pay-–-2024-25-assessment.pdf The report confirmed that all companies had complied with the rule and had prohibited relevant performance related pay as defined in the Water Industry Act 1991.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish a consultation on amending the Hunting Act 2004.
The Department has no plans to publish a consultation on amending the Hunting Act 2004. The Department will consult early this year on how to deliver a ban on trail hunting.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to give the public a right of responsible access to all rivers in England.
The Government recognises the importance of access to nature for people’s health and well-being. There is already public access to regulated rivers owned and managed by navigation authorities, available through their licensing regimes. We are considering our approach to improving access to unregulated rivers and are committed to working with stakeholders as this develops.
Food and Rural Affairs, what representations she has received from the Greyhound Board of Great Britain on amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010.
The Department has not had any recent discussions with, or representations from, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain about amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Greyhound Board of Great Britain on amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 to include dog nose prints as an means of identifying racing greyhounds.
The Department has not had any recent discussions with, or representations from, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain about amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether Poole will be eligible for funding under the new fund for fishing and coastal areas announced in the Budget.
On 19 May 2025, the £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund was announced to support the next generation of fishers. On 20 October, the Government announced that the fund would be devolved, with each Devolved Government responsible for delivering their share of the fund. For England, while eligibility criteria are still being developed as we engage with industry on where to target funding, we will welcome applications for eligible projects that invest in fishing and coastal communities from across England, including Poole. Detailed guidance on the application process and criteria will be published once engagement with stakeholders has completed. Engagement with stakeholders is currently underway to help shape priorities for the funding. I would encourage stakeholders in Poole to contribute to this process so that their local priorities are appropriately reflected.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing an immediate moratorium on the importing of trophies of endangered species.
The Government is committed to a ban on the import of hunting trophies. Having examined the options to deliver this, the Department has determined that legislating a robust ban on trophy hunting is the most effective approach the Government can take. We are currently engaging with a range of stakeholders and will confirm legislative timetables once the Parliamentary timetable for future sessions is in place.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether the consultation on hunting will review exemptions under the Hunting Act 2004.
This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and we will consult specifically on how to deliver a ban in the new year.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure trail hunting is not used as a cover for the illegal hunting of wild mammals with dogs.
This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and we will consult specifically on how to deliver a ban in the new year.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) extending the bathing season on a case-by-case basis and (b) implementing year-round testing.
On 28 October 2025, the Department laid before Parliament an SI which incorporates reforms to modernise the Bathing Water Regulations. Core reform 3, which is due to come into force 21 November, introduces the discretion to determine a different bathing season for a site where appropriate, allowing more flexible, locally tailored bathing seasons that reflect when people use the site. We are working with the Environment Agency on a pre-implementation research project. In this, we will consult with stakeholders to ensure we have considered all the relevant factors, including existing studies and other evidence like the EA’s recently published ‘Exploring recreational water use in England’ report, during development. The outcome of this research project will be set out in public guidance that will be published in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of current penalties for offences under the Hunting Act 2004 in deterring illegal hunting.
This Government has not made such an assessment to date. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. The Act already provides for a range of penalties, including fines and forfeiture of dogs, vehicles and equipment used to commit an offence.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Bathing Water (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2025, what she plans to extend these protections to all recreational water users.
Bathing waters are one of the most visible ways in which the public interacts with the water environment and so it is critical that appropriate regulations meet the needs of water users and those involved with managing bathing water sites. In the November – December 2024 consultation on bathing water reforms, we asked respondents about the expansion of the definition of ‘bathers’ to include other water users. 90% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal and gave suggestions of what water users should be included. We are now exploring further research to determine how best to implement this reform and consider any potential environmental and societal impacts. Defra will engage with local and national stakeholders as this work progresses.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of Natural England’s Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security strategy.
Natural England worked closely with Defra and other stakeholders in development of their new strategy entitled ‘Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security’, which has been shared and discussed with Ministers. The strategic outcomes and approaches described in the strategy align with Defra and Government priorities.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 to remove the requirement for racing greyhounds to be identified by earmarking.
One of the original objectives of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 was to improve the traceability of greyhounds in England during and after their racing life. The 2010 Regulations therefore require all greyhounds racing in England to be permanently identified by both microchip and ear tattoo. Any future review of the 2010 Regulations would include assessing the merits of still requiring two methods of permanent identification for racing greyhounds.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of amending the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 to include dog nose prints as an means of identifying racing greyhounds.
One of the original objectives of the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010 was to improve the traceability of greyhounds in England during and after their racing life. The 2010 Regulations therefore require all greyhounds racing in England to be permanently identified by both microchip and ear tattoo. Any future review of the 2010 Regulations would include assessing the merits of still requiring two methods of permanent identification for racing greyhounds.