Written questions by Duncan-Jordan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential financial impact of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on the beer and pub sector.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not split the assessment by sector. The Government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing sector, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). Feedback from stakeholders was factored into finalising the regulations, including formally consulting stakeholders on a draft of the pEPR regulations in 2023. pEPR obligates brands and packaging producers to pay the costs of managing household packaging waste. In most cases, this will not be individual pubs but the business supplying the pub with packaged goods. My officials have recently attended a number of events organised by the brewing industry, to discuss pEPR and to listen and respond to concerns raised by their members. We have provided extensive guidance to all sectors on how to comply with their obligations under pEPR and continue to work with the brewing sector and others to further refine both the guidance and the wider scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility fees on businesses in the UK compared to similar schemes in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Canada.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the pEPR scheme on packaging producers as a whole. This impact assessment did not compare the impact of fees to international schemes. Illustrative base fee estimates for the UK are in the same order of magnitude of other countries’ fees. However, comparisons are not straightforward because of differences in waste infrastructure and waste management approaches.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with international counterparts on best practices for balancing the environmental benefits of Extended Producer Responsibility with economic sustainability for affected industries.

Defra and PackUK have engaged with multiple European and Canadian EPR schemes throughout development of pEPR, using international best practice to inform the drafting of the regulations. Many of the international EPR schemes are managed by Producer Responsibility Organisations (PRO’s). Environmental benefits are considered to be enhanced by the PRO’s having direct accountability for local recycling services infrastructure and driving investment. A PRO approach is also broadly considered to drive cost efficiency and ensure that Extended Producer Responsibility Schemes provide good value for money for obligated producers. Defra officials are currently working with devolved governments to bring forward amendments to pEPR Regulations that would enable appointment of a PRO.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to introduce robust traceability of dogs across the UK.

Compulsory dog microchipping was introduced in England in 2016. All dogs must be microchipped before they are eight weeks old and relevant information including breeder details recorded with a Defra-compliant database operator which helps support traceability.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reconvene the Responsible Dog Ownership Working Group.

Defra is continuing to work with the police, local authorities and animal welfare groups to explore measures to reduce dog attacks and promote responsible dog ownership across all breeds of dog. We are currently considering the best way to take forward the Responsible Dog Ownership taskforce.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure oversight of the welfare of trout on farms in England.

Current legislation provides protection for farmed fish. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any protected animal, including fish, or to fail to provide for the welfare needs of a protected animal, for which that person is responsible. Any allegations of welfare issues on trout farms in England will be investigated by the Animal and Plant Health Agency and where there are non-compliances with the regulations, appropriate action will be taken.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Animal Welfare Committee Opinions on specialised dog reproductive practices and cat breeding practices, published on 19 December 2024, whether his Department is planning to take steps to tackle the health and welfare issues caused by the breeding for extreme conformations of (a) dogs and (b) cats.

The Government welcomes the Animal Welfare Committee’s Opinions on the welfare implications of specialised canine reproductive practices and on the welfare implications of current and emergent feline breeding practices. We are carefully considering the Committee’s recommendations in both Opinions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking ahead of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference to ensure the effective management of Marine Protected Areas.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are already protected from the point of designation by the planning and marine licensing regimes that cover activities such as dredging for aggregates and construction of offshore wind farms. In addition, the Department is considering next steps to manage bottom trawling, along with other fishing methods, where this might damage MPA features or benthic habitats, in the context of our domestic and international nature conservation obligations. We are keen to continue to work closely with fisheries and marine stakeholders as we develop our plans for future fisheries and marine management. The 2025 UN Ocean Conference offers an opportunity to discuss our approach with a wide range of organisations and partners.

Food and Rural Affairs, how his department plans to ensure the forthcoming review of the English Marine Protected Area (MPA) network will deliver stronger protections for vulnerable marine habitats; and how it relates to the ongoing process to manage the impacts of fishing activities such as bottom-trawling on English offshore MPAs.

Our MPAs represent our most precious marine resources. However, the MPA network is under pressure from a range of sources. The review which we announced in January will consider ways to future proof the network, for example in terms of climate change adaptation and mitigation, while allowing us to still meet our international commitment to effectively protect 30% of our seas by 2030. In the meantime, the Government remains committed to making continued progress on effective management We are considering next steps to manage bottom trawling, along with other fishing methods, where this might damage marine protected area features or benthic habitats, in the context of our domestic and international nature conservation obligations. We are keen to continue to work closely with fisheries and marine stakeholders as we develop our plans for future fisheries and marine management.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to increase penalties for crimes against wildlife so that they are in line with sentences for other animal welfare offences.

Defra has no current plans to increase the penalties for committing crimes against wildlife. Wildlife crime is unacceptable, and significant sanctions are already available for judges to hand down to those convicted of such crimes. Anyone who commits an offence under existing legislation such as the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 could face up to a six-month custodial sentence and/or an unlimited fine. In addition, while the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 generally protects animals that are commonly domesticated, it can extend to wildlife as it prohibits causing unnecessary suffering to wild animals under human control, for example when they are held in a hand or caught live in a trap. Under this Act the maximum sentence for animal cruelty is five years, which is equal to the highest penalty in the world for such crimes. This sends a clear signal to any future potential offenders that animal cruelty will not be tolerated

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to ban the (a) use and (b) sale of (i) glue traps and (ii) wire snares.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. A ban on the use of glue traps is already in place. The Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022 came into force in England on 31 July 2024. It prohibits the use of glue traps with limited exceptions for professional pest controllers, acting under a licence issued by Natural England, to preserve public health or public safety when there is no satisfactory alternative. The law does not prohibit the sale of glue traps in England and there are no current plans to ban sale. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of wire snare traps. We are considering the most effective way to deliver this commitment and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission a review into the prevalence of fox hunting across England and Wales.

Defra has no current plans to commission a review into the prevalence of foxhunting. The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act. The full details of the Hunting Act 2004 exemptions are available online at: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/37/schedule/1. Those found guilty under the Act are subject to the full force of the law. Enforcement of the Hunting Act is an operational matter for the police.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help protect animal habitats from building developments.

Protected sites designated under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 afford a high degree of statutory protection to some of our most valuable habitats. We are committed to making sure development contributes to nature’s recovery. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill gives us an opportunity to use development to support nature’s recovery, while providing greater speed and certainty for developers. We will use the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to establish a more efficient and effective way for obligations related to our most important sites and species to be discharged at a scale that has the greatest environmental benefits.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing guidance on ethical principles for licensing of wildlife management.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Wildlife conflicts are often minor and tolerable, especially if basic avoidance measures are employed. If the problem is significant enough to warrant action, options should be explored that avoid harmful impacts on the species concerned while still resolving the problem. In the first instance, legal non-lethal measures should be considered. Only if these fail, are impractical or deemed ineffective, should available legal lethal options be considered. Many laws in England protect and regulate how wild animals may be controlled and anyone carrying out wildlife management must ensure that they comply with the law. Many organisations have published Codes of Practice to summarise the law, as well as including information on best practice. Natural England can also offer advice on how to comply with laws that protect wildlife and the natural environment. The Government has no current plans to assess the merits of publishing guidance on ethical principles for licensing of wildlife management.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on steps to ensure that offences of (a) reckless and (b) negligent behaviour which causes harm to wildlife are appropriately dealt with.

The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Ministry of Justice colleagues on a range of issues.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the report by Joanna Poulton, Jak Richardson, Kathleen Pollitt and Cleo Goodman entitled Sowing the Seeds of Stability: A proposal to use basic income as the system to support the income of farmers and farm workers, published in March 2024.

The report cited by the honourable member proposes a system of untargeted farming subsidy based on regular and unconditional cash payments made to farmers. Evidence suggests that untargeted subsidies such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and delinked payments offered poor value for money and introduced distortionary incentives, which inhibited the development of a productive and competitive agricultural sector that delivers optimal environmental outcomes. This is Government is proud to have ended the subsidy model in farming. Looking forward, this Government’s vision for farming depends on a farming sector where farmers make a fair profit from producing food, and where farm businesses can diversify their income to remain viable in challenging times. To this end, the government has confirmed it will set up a new Farming Profitability Unit within Defra. This will work with farmers and other industry stakeholders from across all sectors and regions to understand the barriers farmers face to increasing profits through farming. It will examine how farmers can embrace innovation, improve productivity and market access, how the supply chain can support a more profitable farming sector through greater transparency, collaboration and a fairer distribution of risk, rewards and responsibility. The Government is also supporting farmers to grow their businesses by extending the Seasonal Worker visa route for five more years. This will give farms a pipeline of workers. Annual quota reviews will ensure we strike the right balance – supporting farms while gradually reducing visa numbers as we develop alternative solutions.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making Historic England a named body for the purposes of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Defra has made no such assessment as the Department is neither responsible for Historic England nor for the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) reduce and (b) replace the use of dogs in testing required under plant protection product legislation.

The UK Government is committed to maintaining a rigorous regulatory system which ensures that animal research and testing is carried out only where no practicable alternatives exist and under controls which keep suffering to a minimum. The GB pesticides regulation (assimilated EU Regulation 1107/2009) requires that any testing on vertebrate animals is undertaken only where no other methods are available and that duplication of tests and studies on vertebrates must be avoided. It is an offence to carry out animal tests in contravention of the regulations. The HSE implement and enforce these requirements as the competent authority for the GB pesticide regulations, acting on behalf of the UK and Devolved Governments in Scotland and Wales.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of plant protection product legislation on trends in the level of animal testing on dogs in the last five years.

While we have not made an assessment of the potential impact of plant protection product legislation on trends in the level of animal testing, the UK Government is committed to maintaining a rigorous regulatory system which ensures that animal research and testing is carried out only where no practicable alternatives exist and under controls which keep suffering to a minimum. The GB pesticides regulation (assimilated EU Regulation 1107/2009) requires that any testing on vertebrate animals is undertaken only where no other methods are available and that duplication of tests and studies on vertebrates must be avoided. It is an offence to carry out animal tests in contravention of the regulations. The HSE implement and enforce these requirements as the competent authority for the GB pesticide regulations, acting on behalf of the UK and Devolved Governments in Scotland and Wales.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to publish a response to the consultation entitled the Fur Market in Great Britain, published on 31 May 2021, after the Animal Welfare Committee publishes its review on the responsible sourcing of fur.

The call for evidence on the Fur Market in Great Britain was undertaken by the previous government and next steps will be announced in due course. Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The report that they produce will support our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps.