Written questions by Glover.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on support for consumers with increases to water bills.

Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure. The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Now whilst it is never wanted, customer bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways. Given these challenges, in the first week of office the Secretary of State secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Where money is not spent this will be returned to customers. Furthermore, we understand the financial pressures hardworking families are facing and are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. The Government expects water companies to put robust support measures in place for customers to ensure vulnerable customers across the country are supported. Water companies therefore have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs, from 4% to 9% by 2030, and the Government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure customers are sufficiently supported.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with (a) Ofwat and (b) Thames Water on increases to consumers' water bills.

Under the Conservatives, our sewage system crumbled. They irresponsibly let water companies divert customers’ money to line the pockets of their bosses and shareholders. The public are right to be angry after they have been left to pay the price of Conservative failure. The Secretary of State has regular discussions with Cabinet colleagues on a range of issues. For too long, investment has not kept pace with the challenges of an ageing infrastructure system, a rapidly growing population and climate change. Now whilst it is never wanted, customer bills will therefore now need to rise to invest in our crumbling infrastructure and deliver cleaner waterways. Given these challenges, in the first week of office the Secretary of State secured agreement that funding for vital infrastructure investment is ringfenced and can only be spent on upgrades benefiting customers and the environment. Where money is not spent this will be returned to customers. Furthermore, we understand the financial pressures hardworking families are facing and are pushing the sector to ensure support is available for vulnerable customers who are struggling to pay their bills. The Government expects water companies to put robust support measures in place for customers to ensure vulnerable customers across the country are supported. Water companies therefore have more than doubled the number of customers that will receive help with their bills through social tariffs, from 4% to 9% by 2030, and the Government is working with industry to keep current support schemes under review to ensure customers are sufficiently supported.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there is adequate competition in the domestic veterinary care insurance sector.

Pet insurance providers are private businesses and are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to (a) support the restoration of peatlands and (b) deliver the targets in the England Peat Action Plan.

The Government recognises the importance of England’s peatlands, and in our manifesto, we committed to expanding nature-rich habitats such as peatlands. This will contribute to ensuring nature’s recovery, one of Defra’s five priorities. We have 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. Peatland restoration is currently funded via the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, and going forwards will be primarily funded through Environmental Land Management schemes, such as the Landscape Recovery and Countryside Stewardship schemes. Private finance will also be vital if we are to meet our peatland restoration ambitions. To support peatland restoration, the Government is implementing a range of policies that will mobilise private investment. These include working with the IUCN to attract investment via carbon credits through the Peatland Code. The England Peat Action Plan was published under the previous Government.