Written questions by Glover.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many prosecutions have been made for piglet thumping in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is considering further measures to strengthen the enforcement of the ban on illegal piglet thumping beyond The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle piglet thumping.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of farms involved in piglet thumping.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much weight is given to protecting (a) businesses and (b) national infrastructure when directing resources in flood risk assessments.

This Government is investing £10.5 billion until 2036 to construct new flood schemes and repair existing defences, protecting communities from the devastating impacts of climate change. On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money. Protecting business and national infrastructure are both included within the overall economic benefits calculation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to phase out the use of CO2 gas chambers in slaughterhouses.

As set out in this Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member York Central, PQ UIN 116174.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to implement regulations required in the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Slough, on 26 February 2026 to PQ UIN 114064.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department had a cap for the level of cost increase for Thames Water’s SESRO project above which the project would not have been approved.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the flood and safety risk assessments for the proposed SESRO reservoir.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the SESRO project on the water bills of customers of (a) Thames Water, (b) Southern Water and (c) Affinity Water; and whether this estimate has been updated for the most recent increases in the expected cost of the project.

The Government is committed to delivering best value for customers through the water infrastructure programme, while supporting growth and ensuring a resilient water supply. The Government’s Water Delivery Taskforce is working across Government, regulators and water industry stakeholders to ensure this. White Horse Reservoir is subject to ongoing assessment through the Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) gated process, which includes further investigations and assessments to inform a development consent application. Through the development consent process consideration is given to flood and safety management and other regulatory requirements. This sits within the safety framework set out by the Reservoirs Act. All required assessments will be submitted by Thames Water to the Planning Inspectorate and the Secretary of State for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds information related to an independent comparative assessment of the potential cost to the public pursue of Thames Water's White Horse reservoir proposal with (a) the creation of a smaller reservoir, (b) Severn-Trent Transfer, and (c) a combination of both options.

Thames Water has selected the reservoir as part of its statutory Water Resources Management Plan. Water Resources South East has also conducted an options appraisal process, identifying the reservoir's necessity in its Regional Plan. The plans continue to be scrutinised by the water regulators.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government’s forthcoming animal welfare strategy will prohibit (a) the introduction of in-ovo sexing technology and (b) the routine culling of day-old male chicks.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of a national social tariff.

The Independent Water Commission made a recommendation to consult on a National Social Tariff which the Government is taking into consideration and will provide a response to later this year in a White Paper. The Government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported and expects water companies to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. Companies have therefore more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through existing social tariffs – from 4% to 9%.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on establishing a national social tariff for water consumers.

The Independent Water Commission made a recommendation to consult on a National Social Tariff, which Government is taking into consideration and will provide a response to later this year in a White Paper. Water companies have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through existing social tariffs – from 4% to 9% - and the Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers across the country are supported.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the total life costs for the South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and set out how they plan to continue to meet this duty to their customers through Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs are statutory and set out how each company will manage water supply and demand, including reducing leaks, sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources including reservoirs and transfers to ensure they meet their duties to customers. Water companies must consult on their WRMPs and these are scrutinised by regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Water Resources South East, the regional water resources group of South East water companies, and Thames Water have published their water resources plans, including the analysis and cost information. The plans are available online:www.wrse.org.uk/library/?documentTags=Regional+Plan and www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/regulation/water-resources.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether a cost benefit analysis has been carried out on the South East Strategic Reservoir Option.

Water companies have a statutory duty to provide a secure supply of water for customers, efficiently and economically and set out how they plan to continue to meet this duty to their customers through Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs). WRMPs are statutory and set out how each company will manage water supply and demand, including reducing leaks, sustainably for at least the next 25 years. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and new water resources including reservoirs and transfers to ensure they meet their duties to customers. Water companies must consult on their WRMPs and these are scrutinised by regulators, including the Environment Agency and Ofwat. Water Resources South East, the regional water resources group of South East water companies, and Thames Water have published their water resources plans, including the analysis and cost information. The plans are available online:www.wrse.org.uk/library/?documentTags=Regional+Plan and www.thameswater.co.uk/about-us/regulation/water-resources.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a right to roam for waterways.

The Government recognises the importance of providing access to the outdoors including blue spaces for people’s health and wellbeing and is working to ensure this is safe and appropriate. This is why we have set out our ambitious manifesto commitments to create nine new national river walks and three new national forests in England, expanding access to the great outdoors. We are currently developing policy to improve access to nature, including onto unregulated inland waterways, working closely with other government departments and key stakeholders to reduce barriers preventing people from accessing green and blue spaces.