Written questions by Davies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that newly created woodlands are (a) ecologically diverse and (b) climate-resilient.

Both the Woodland Creation Planning Grant and England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) enables landowners to design woodlands that fit with their own and Government objectives for woodland creation. EWCO includes maintenance grants for 15 years to ensure successful establishment. The England Woodland Creation Offer has additional contributions for woodlands designed to enhance nature recovery. The Ecological Site Classification tool ensures that the choice of species will be resilient to future climatic conditions of the site. The UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) ensures that a new woodland should have no more than 65% of the site planted with 1 species, to ensure a resilient mix. Elements of EWCO (Nature Recovery Additional Contributions) encourage a diverse use of predominately native tree species beyond UKFS requirements.

Food and Rural Affairs, how the UK Forestry Standard is being enforced in (a) public and (b) private woodland creation.

The UK Forestry Standard is the technical standard for sustainable forest management across the UK and defines the government requirements for forestry in the UK. When taking decisions on regulatory or grant applications from private landowners, the Forestry Commission assesses all proposals to ensure that they are in line with the UK Forestry Standard. Similarly, Forestry England woodlands are UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) certified by an independent auditor. The UKWAS is based on the UKFS.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on restoring 280,000 hectares of peatland by 2050.

Restoration activity is delivered through agri-environment schemes and the Nature for Climate Fund. This fund has secured the restoration of approximately 28,000 hectares of peatlands. In the last restoration season (24/25), 5,606 hectares were restored.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help restore plantations on ancient woodland sites.

Defra supports private landowners and land managers to restore Plantations on Ancient Woodland (PAWS) with a dedicated supplement in Countryside Stewardship. Defra is also continuing support to Forestry England to restore PAWS on the public forest estate. Forestry England manages around one-third of all PAWS. Today, a quarter of those sites have been restored. Forestry England is now working to double the pace of restoration, supported for the first time this year by direct Defra funding.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with industry stakeholders on the Forest Risk Commodities regulations.

We recognise the need to take action to prevent UK consumption of forest risk commodities driving deforestation and to consult industry stakeholders.We will set out our approach to addressing deforestation in the UK’s supply chains in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish the Forest Risk Commodities regulations.

The Government recognises the need to take action to ensure that UK consumption of forest risk commodities is not driving deforestation and we will set out our approach to addressing this in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress his Department has made on developing a food strategy.

On December 10, the Secretary of State spoke to businesses and industry groups from across the food sector and confirmed that work is underway to develop an ambitious food strategy. In developing the strategy, we are establishing a new way of working with the sector, building on strong partnerships to create a strategy drawing on shared expertise and collective commitments, backed by a clear vision and framework for change from government. Work to develop this is ongoing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department made of the number of cases of avian influenza within the game bird population.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) assesses the impact gamebird releases have on the likelihood of transmission of avian influenza to wild birds, and between wild birds and kept birds. These risk assessments are available as part of the APHA’s ‘Animal diseases: international and UK monitoring’ collection on GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to provide training to rangers on the use of firefighting equipment.

Fire Services are responsible for responding to and fighting fires. Defra will not provide training on firefighting equipment beyond the control of managed vegetation fires.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to help support the sharing of best practice at the (a) Peak District and (b) South Pennines fire operation groups on moorland fires.

Fire Operation Groups (FOGs) and similar networks across the country play a vital role in mitigating, preventing and responding to the risks and realities of wildfire. The government applauds the work they do. Defra supports the promotion of shared learning and professional development through its membership of established forums and networks.