Written questions by Savage.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of Ofwat in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector.

The Independent Water Commission (IWC) assessed the issue of water companies accumulating excessive debt. It concluded that Ofwat has not been effective in preventing excessive debt accumulation in the water sector. In response, the government committed in the Water White Paper to introduce reforms to ensure companies do not accumulate unmanageable debt. The government is abolishing Ofwat, and replacing it with a new, single water regulator. This is a key step towards implementing a more effective approach to strengthening financial resilience across the water sector.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of projected increases in domestic water bills on household finances.

It is important that customers get value for money from their water bills and that support is available for those who need it. As the independent economic regulator, it is Ofwat’s responsibility to scrutinise water company business plans and ensure the prices water companies charge their customers are fair and proportionate. It does this through its Price Review, every five years. All water companies have measures in place for customers who struggle to pay for their water and wastewater services, such as WaterSure, social tariffs, payment breaks and holidays, and debt management support. Moreover, Government expects industry to keep the current support schemes under review to ensure that vulnerable customers are supported.Affordability must be at the core of any future investment plans. The Government will be doing an impact assessment for the water reform bill which will cover the costs and benefits of reforms.

Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency plans are in place to protect consumers, affordability, and continuity of service in the event of a water company becoming financially unviable.

Under section 24 of the Water Industry Act 1991, if a water company becomes insolvent, the Defra Secretary of State and Ofwat (with the Secretary of State’s consent) can apply to the court to place the company into a Special Administration Regime. This allows the company to be rescued through measures such as debt restructuring or transferred as a going concern to new owners. A Special Administration Regime enables a company which provides vital public services (e.g. water, energy, rail) to continue to operate, and customers to continue to receive vital services. The Government has committed in the Water White Paper to introduce a new Performance Improvement Regime (PIR) for poorly performing water companies, to enable a turn around, and minimize negative impacts of poor performance on customers and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to establish or increase strategic national food reserves.

The UK has a resilient food supply chain and is equipped to deal with situations that have the potential to cause disruption. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether private contractors operating Household Waste Recycling Centres on behalf of local authorities are permitted to levy charges on residents for the disposal of household waste; and whether the Government will review current guidance or legislation in light of proposals affecting the Purton Household Waste Recycling Centre in Wiltshire.

Local Authorities are responsible for the provision of Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) in their area. Householders must be allowed to deposit waste deemed to be ‘household waste’ for free. Where waste does not meet the criteria for being classified as household waste, such as construction waste, then the waste local authorities may charge for this. WRAP provided updated HWRC guidance in March 2025. There is currently no intention to carry out a further review of guidance or legislation. [The Government would encourage local authorities to consider ease of access and availability of services for residents when determining service provision.]

Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the decisions on the measures for the Stage 3 offshore MPAs.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ely and East Cambridgeshire on 13 November 2025, PQ 88509.

Food and Rural Affairs when the HPMAs will be implemented.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Rotherham, Sarah Champion, on 3 December 2025, PQ UIN 94184.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish the UK’s opening position at bilateral and trilateral negotiations for the years 2023 and 2024.

Each year the UK negotiates with other coastal States to set fishing opportunities, informed by the best available scientific advice. Due to the recurring nature of these negotiations, it is not appropriate to publicly disclose the UK’s opening positions. The Government’s negotiations with the EU, and with the EU and Norway have both concluded and details of the outcomes are available on gov.uk.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will conduct a sustainability review of spurdog measures before reopening the fishery.

The UK and EU agreed to reopen fishing for spurdog in UK and EU waters in 2023 during annual consultations for that fishing year. That agreement was reached following consideration of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas positive scientific advice for the stock, which demonstrated the stock’s recovery in response to management measures. The UK’s approach to negotiations aims to balance environmental sustainability alongside consideration of the social and economic aspects of fishing, consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020, the Joint Fisheries Statement, and other legal commitments, as well as shared objectives with the EU under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the upcoming Land Use Framework will include measures to improve public access to nature.

The Government consulted on land use in England from January to April this year. The consultation recognised the importance of increasing responsible access to the outdoors for people’s health and wellbeing. It stated Government’s intention to support access to green and blue spaces in urban and rural environments, and green routes for active travel to and through these spaces. The responses to this consultation, and feedback from supporting workshops, are being analysed. These responses will inform the preparation of the Land Use Framework, which will be published early next year. The Government has also announced, as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, that we will bring forward an Access to Nature Green Paper to consult on proposals to improve and expand public access to the outdoors.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she intends to publish a white paper on access to nature.

The Government has announced, as part of the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025, that we will bring forward an Access to Nature Green Paper to consult on proposals to improve and expand public access to the outdoors. The Green Paper will set out a range of policy options and invite views from stakeholders and the public, helping us to gather evidence and test approaches before decisions are made. This consultation will play an important role in shaping the development of future policy in this area.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will extend the definition of bathers to include other water user types in the context of the Bathing Waters Regulations.

Bathing waters are one of the most visible ways in which the public interacts with the water environment, and so it is critical that appropriate regulations meet the needs of water users and those involved with managing bathing water sites. In the November – December 2024 consultation on bathing water reforms, we asked respondents about wider reforms including the expansion of the definition of ‘bathers’ to include other water users and introducing multiple monitoring points at sites. The Government response to the consultation, published in March 2025, outlined that a clear majority of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with this proposal and many offered suggestions of what water users should be included. The Department is now exploring how evidence to support the delivery of these wider reforms, including expanding the definition of a bather might be developed. The timeline for detailed policy development and research will depend on the outcome of initial scoping work. Defra will engage with local and national stakeholders as this work progresses.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of National England's decision to not accept complaints on injurious weeds on (a) agriculture and (b) the public.

Advice on the management and control of injurious weeds is published on GOV.UK. Natural England did not accept new weeds complaints in 2025. This was a temporary measure whilst they reviewed the approach to addressing injurious weeds, to improve access to appropriate advice and guidance and ensure enforcement resources are targeted most effectively. The complaints process will reopen as usual in April 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of compliance by water companies with their statutory obligations to maintain accurate digital maps of (a) potable water mains, (b) service reservoirs and (c) isolation valves in rural areas.

The Government is preparing to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission, including on the extent and enforcement of current water industry mapping requirements. Reforms outlined in this response will form the basis of a new water reform bill to be introduced early in this Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to introduce a successor scheme to support on-farm natural flood management and drainage maintenance from 2026 onwards.

This Government is increasing its funding for flood protection. We are investing £4.2 billion over three years in flood defences across the country – an average of £1.4 billion each year and a 5% increase compared to the current spending review period. This money will fund construction of new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that farmers continue to receive support for managing their land to prevent flooding beyond 2025; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of there being no replacement funding available in 2026 on flood risk and soil health .

This Government is increasing its funding for flood protection. We are investing £4.2 billion over three years in flood defences across the country – an average of £1.4 billion each year and a 5% increase compared to the current spending review period. This money will fund construction of new flood schemes and maintain and repair existing defences.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with Ofwat on funding within the 2024 Price Review (AMP8) period for (a) potable-mains renewal, (b) additional isolation valves and (c) pressure management in the (i) North Wiltshire and (ii) South Cotswolds supply areas; and whether those programmes are aligned to local plan housing trajectories.

Defra Ministers and officials have had numerous conversations with Ofwat about a range of issues, including in relation to the Price Review 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of annual re-validation requirements for priority services register customers on retention of vulnerable households; and if she will consider introducing an (a) opt-out and (b) auto-renewal model for customers (i) aged 75+, (ii) on disability benefits and (iii) with clinically significant needs.

Defra does not regulate the priority services register. Ofwat, as the economic regulator, has made clear in their priority services register guidance that companies should achieve actual contact with 35% of households on their priority services register every two years, and attempt contact with 90% of households on the register every two years.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps with (a) Ofwat, (b) the Department for Health and Social Care and (c) local authorities to enable proportionate data-sharing so that (i) water companies and (ii) councils can identify vulnerable households for priority services register support.

Water companies manage their own lists of customers who are on the Priority Services Register. Ofwat, the economic regulator, has set out in their vulnerability guidance that companies should consider how their records of customers’ needs can be designed in a way that can help deliver wider benefits to their customers; for example, reducing communication burdens for customers through data sharing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help increase the number of (a) older, (b) disabled and (c) medically vulnerable customers who have signed up to priority services registers.

All water companies have priority service registers (PSR), which customers can voluntarily sign up to. Significant progress has already been made by companies in the 2020-25 period with PSRs growing from less than 2% of households in England and Wales in 2020, to over 10% in 2023/24. Ofwat, as the economic regulator, has made clear in their priority services register guidance that companies should make all reasonable endeavours towards having a comprehensive picture of PSR service requirements of individual customers in their area, and that this will require companies to grow their PSRs beyond 2025 levels. They also make clear that as companies take steps to grow their PSRs, they should prioritise those customers at greatest risk of harm.