Written questions by Lowe.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the new funding formula for Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management will include a specific category for rapidly eroding coastlines.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Under the new rules, projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money, with partnership contributions boosting a project’s prioritisation. Benefits include those of protecting coastal communities. The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood and coastal erosion projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use Government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme. On coastal erosion, working with the Environment Agency, we will explore how we can take forward the current Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme. We will build on lessons learned, also recognising the growing source of risk in this area from the latest NCERM data.

Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish its final response to the consultation on the Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management funding formula.

On 14 October, following consultation, the Government announced major changes to its flood and coastal erosion funding policy. Under the new rules, projects will be prioritised by their benefit-to-cost ratios to drive value for money, with partnership contributions boosting a project’s prioritisation. Benefits include those of protecting coastal communities. The new funding policy will optimise funding between building new flood and coastal erosion projects and maintaining existing defences and will ensure that deprived communities continue to receive vital investment. We will use Government funding to unlock investment from public, private and charitable sources, making every £1 of Government investment go further. We will also invest at least £300 million in natural flood management over ten years – the highest figure to date for the floods programme. On coastal erosion, working with the Environment Agency, we will explore how we can take forward the current Coastal Transition Accelerator Programme. We will build on lessons learned, also recognising the growing source of risk in this area from the latest NCERM data.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the cost to the public purse was of investigating unlicensed fishing by the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

The investigation and subsequent enforcement outcome took two days of work. The specific costs associated with each investigation and enforcement outcome can vary based on a number of factors. Data for this specific case is not held centrally but the average cost for two days of work would usually be approximately £500.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many employees in his Department earn (a) £100,000 and (b) £166,000 or more per year.

Defra publishes organogram data for Senior Civil Servants here: Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries - data.gov.uk.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of departmental procurement contracts were awarded to British companies in the last financial year.

There were 508 contracts awarded by Defra as the contract owner in financial year 2024/25 – 500 are to UK-based suppliers, which equates to 98.43% and excludes purchase orders raised for Defra below threshold. Details of central Government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023 above £12,000 including VAT are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. This includes a note of the winning supplier.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has considered providing fiscal incentives to local authorities that prioritise British food in their catering contracts.

The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. We have already published a new national procurement policy statement. It sets expectations for government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards that we think high-quality British producers are well-placed to meet.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the proportion of British-grown food procured by the public sector.

The Government is open to considering all lawful means of achieving its ambition that half of all food purchased across the public sector should be locally produced or certified to higher environmental standards. The new national procurement policy statement sets expectations that government contracts will favour the purchase of food certified to higher environmental standards, which we believe British producers operating to the highest standards will be well-placed to meet.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support is available for public sector caterers that would like to organise farm visits to help improve local food supply relationships.

We are currently considering the policy options available to deliver further on our ambitions for public sector catering, including the potential benefits of developing stronger ties between food producers, caterers, and end consumers.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the (a) number of food miles and (b) level of carbon emissions generated through catering provided by the public sector in the most recent period for which data is available.

The Government is currently considering policy options, including how best to demonstrate the beneficial impacts of the new national procurement policy statement, which sets out expectations for Government contracts to favour products certified to high environmental standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will require public bodies to publish annual data on the percentage of British food procured.

Public bodies are not required to report on the origin of the food they procure. However, the Government will be reviewing food provenance across the public sector. This will help inform our future approach on public sector food procurement, including any potential considerations for data reporting.

Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the environmental impact of sourcing food from British producers compared to overseas suppliers for public sector contracts.

In 2021, Defra assessed the scientific evidence on the environmental impacts of locally sourced food for public food procurement. This analysis considered the positive and negative environmental impacts of both imported and in country produced food, i.e. British. This analysis identified strong evidence and wide academic consensus that sourcing food locally does not necessarily guarantee a better environmental impact than importing: generally, production has a much greater impact on the environmental footprint of food products than the impacts of transport.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he takes steps to encourage local authorities to support local producers through food contracts for (a) care homes and (b) civic buildings.

We recognise the potential benefits of developing stronger ties between local authorities and food producers and support efforts from all parties in strengthening relationships across the supply chains, including into (a) care homes and (b) civic buildings. That is why our national procurement policy statement highlights the role of contracting authorities in driving economic growth and strengthening supply chains by giving small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSEs) a fair chance.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in his Department have permission to work remotely outside the UK; and in which countries those staff are based.

Information on civil servants employed by Defra based overseas is publicly available.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on (a) social media promotions, (b) influencer marketing and (c) online advertising in the last 12 months.

Commercial sensitivities exist around aspects of this spend which could prejudice commercial interests. All spend in these areas are subject to the standard value for money assessments.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much their Department has spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for languages other than (i) British Sign Language and (ii) languages native to the UK for people contacting (A) their Department and (B) its agencies in 2025.

The amount of expenditure recorded for translation services in the 2023/24 financial year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March, is £1,699.13.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review (a) agricultural and (b) environmental regulation for (i) food producers and (ii) small farmers.

Defra’s ambition is to reform the agricultural and environmental regulatory system so that it is fair, clear and effective for food producers, farmers and landowners. We are working closely with the sector to improve regulation so that it is proportionate, reduces unnecessary burden and improves clarity for farmers through advice and guidance. We welcome Dan Corry’s recent review of Defra’s regulatory landscape and are actively considering all 29 recommendations. Work is already underway on nine key measures with the greatest impact for growth and nature recovery, which are being fast-tracked.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential impact on (a) UK fish exports and (b) domestic fish processing businesses.

Over 70% of all UK seafood by value is exported to the EU. Removing the need for Export Health Certificates and border checks saves time and money – especially for fresh and live seafood that needs to reach markets quickly. This agreement has secured practical wins for the seafood sector – cutting costs, reducing delays, and protecting key quota, and providing business certainty – while also unlocking broader economic benefits that support UK growth and livelihoods.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Explainer, updated on 19 May 2025, what discussions he has had with representatives of the fishing industry on the new 12-year access arrangement.

The Secretary of State and Fisheries Minister meet regularly with representatives from across the UK fishing industry. During meetings with fishing industry representatives the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement is often discussed, including (but not limited to) the setting of annual fishing opportunities, the work of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries, and the end of the fisheries access adjustment period in 2026. Most recently, the Secretary of State and Fisheries Minister spoke with key industry representatives on 19 May.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential economic impact of extending fishing access to British waters for EU vessels for a further 12 years on coastal communities.

The new UK-EU fisheries agreement announced on 19 May will continue the current access arrangements in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, under which the UK grants access to around 1,600 EU registered vessels to fish in UK waters, of which 154 vessels have access to parts of the 6-12 nautical mile zone in England and Wales in 2025. A list of EU vessels with access to UK waters is published by the UK Single Issuing Authority.We are committed to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the UK fleet and will continue to work closely with the fishing industry and coastal communities to understand their concerns and the impacts of the fishing arrangements announced in the UK-EU summit. We are also launching the Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund investing £360 million over the next 12 years to support the next generation of fishermen and our coastal communities.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an estimate of the potential financial impact of the extension of EU access to fish in British territorial waters to June 2038 on the fishing sector in each region.

The new UK-EU fisheries agreement announced on 19 May will continue the current access arrangements in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, under which the UK grants access to around 1,600 EU registered vessels to fish in UK waters, of which 154 vessels have access to parts of the 6-12 nautical mile zone in England and Wales in 2025. A list of EU vessels with access to UK waters is published by the UK Single Issuing Authority.We are committed to the long-term sustainability and prosperity of the UK fleet and will continue to work closely with the fishing industry and coastal communities to understand their concerns and the impacts of the fishing arrangements announced in the UK-EU summit. We are also launching the Fishing & Coastal Growth Fund investing £360 million over the next 12 years to support the next generation of fishermen and our coastal communities.