Written questions by Prinsley.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to assess the potential impact of the recommendations from the Nuclear Regulatory Review on nature recovery targets set under the Environment Act.

The Government is carefully considering all recommendations of the Nuclear Taskforce’s report and will present a full implementation plan by the end of February. Defra is working with DESNZ and other Government departments to set out this plan. The Taskforce recommendations on the environment seek to deliver better environmental outcomes compared with the existing regime, through a simpler regime which is less burdensome and disruptive for nuclear projects. We are considering these recommendations in line with our objectives to achieve win-wins for nature and growth, as well as meeting our international obligations.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce specific regulations or mandatory safety standards for commercial dog swimming pools, in the context of recent reports of dog injuries associated with unregulated facilities.

Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to cause physical or mental suffering to animals, which would include in settings such as commercial dog swimming pools. Whilst the Government has no plans to introduce specific legislation aimed at regulating dog swimming pools, the 2006 Act applies to protect the welfare of dogs in these settings.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a fully (a) funded, (b) staffed and (c) equipped national Asian Hornet Task Force to tackle the threat posed by the Asian Hornet Wasp.

The response to Yellow-legged hornet (YLH) also known as Asian hornet, is carried out by the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) National Bee Unit (NBU). The NBU has been taking action against YLH since 2016 and has developed a fine-tuned response. In 2024, 24 nests were located and destroyed, compared to 72 nests in 2023. They frequently find a nest within a day of an initial sighting being reported. The NBU are able to draw on further resources from wider APHA to manage the impact on other areas of NBU work including taking action on notifiable bee diseases, while continuing to provide an effective response to YLH. Genetic analysis of hornet samples, conducted by Fera Science Ltd., also aids the response. Results from the analyses of nests destroyed in 2024, have been used to identify areas where there is a higher risk of hornets overwintering. In 2025, spring trapping will be carried out by the NBU in these areas. Although evidence was found that hornets had overwintered in 2023 this is not considered to be strong evidence of an established YLH population.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for when councils will receive (a) transitional funding and (b) revenue support to develop food waste collection services compliant with new waste regulations in the Environment Act 2021.

Collecting food waste separately from residual waste allows us to send it for anaerobic digestion or composting. This reduces the amount of food waste going to landfill, where it releases harmful greenhouse gases, helping to achieve our Net Zero strategy target to eliminate biodegradable waste sent to landfill from 2028. Treating food waste through anaerobic digestion provides greater carbon savings than Energy from Waste treatment and, unlike incineration, it also produces digestate which can be spread to land as a fertiliser. The Government has already brought forward £261.7 million of capital transitional funding to support the introduction of weekly food waste collections in the purchasing of bins and vehicles. We have announced £79.5 million of funding, covering the costs of procurement, project management, communications and container delivery across 24/25 and 25/26.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on the implementation of the Genetic Technologies (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Secretary of State has recently announced that the secondary legislation necessary to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants in England will be laid by the end of March. Defra is also considering the animal welfare framework outlined in the Precision Breeding Act.