Written questions by Champion.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of agroecology on (a) food security and (b) food prices.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will introduce a mechanism to incentivise the creation of river habitat corridors across neighbouring farms to the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to make long-term funding available to farmers to (a) support them to make space for beavers and (b) improve land-use through beaver presence.

This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. Defra recognises the benefits beavers can bring to the environment and is committed to supporting farmers and land managers to live alongside them. Defra is working closely with Natural England, farmers and other stakeholders to develop the long-term management plan for beavers in England. Support for farmers will be provided through a rigorous risk assessment in the application process and the existing management framework laid out in the 5-step beaver management approach. This will be backed up by support through local beaver management groups and Environmental Land Management options. Defra recognises that the management approach and support available for people living alongside beavers will need to develop and adapt to ensure that we continue to meet the challenges posed by an expanding beaver population. As part of this ongoing work, we will evaluate the effectiveness of the support for living alongside beavers, especially in instances where damage is recorded. In this way, we’ll continue to support farmers, landowners and local communities in the long term.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the planned consultation on banning the use of high-concentration carbon dioxide gas stunning for pigs will include a proposed timetable for phasing out that method.

As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, Defra will consult on banning carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs and on possible timescales for phasing out this method. Further details will be set out later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to include decapod crustaceans in the Animal Welfare Act 2006; and if she will publish a timeline for an announcement on that decision.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. We set out in our Animal Welfare Strategy that we will develop this evidence base through research and continued stakeholder engagement. Defra-commissioned research on how live decapods move from sea to plate is due to finish later this year. In addition, a project on the welfare of decapod crustaceans across the supply chain is included in the Animal Welfare Committee’s current work plan. We will also publish guidance on which methods of killing decapods are compatible with the existing welfare at time of killing legal requirements. No policy decisions about these animals in relation to the Animal Welfare Act (2006) have been made whilst the evidence base is being built. The Government will keep the legislative position under review, as is standard practice.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the working group on fur, announced in the Animal Welfare Strategy, will include virologists and environmental scientists with expertise in the public health and environmental impacts of fur farming.

As set out in the animal welfare strategy, Defra will bring together a working group on fur, with involvement from both industry experts and those who support restrictions on the trade in fur to explore concerns and the different ways in which they could be addressed. The primary focus of the group will be to explore animal welfare concerns relating to the fur trade. Defra is currently developing arrangements for the working group including its membership. Defra will seek appropriate input from relevant experts as needed as part of this.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of requiring remote electronic monitoring systems on all pelagic freezer trawlers of 100 meters or more operating in English waters, including EU-flagged vessels.

Defra has laid out plans to implement REM in five priority fisheries in English waters, including pelagic trawls, over 24m, operating in English waters. This fishery includes pelagic freezer trawlers over 100m. The fisheries were selected via an evidence review. The pelagic fishery was selected as a priority fishery for REM, based on an assessment of:Data needs (and suitability of REM as a tool to address these needs)Achievability of setting up initial programmes Once REM becomes a statutory requirement, all vessels, including EU-flagged vessels, active in the fishery will be required to have REM on board.

Food and Rural Affairs, what safeguards will be included in the UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement to ensure the UK maintains the ability to set animal welfare standards unilaterally, for example to ban the import of animal fur products.

I refer the hon Member to the reply previously given to her on 4 March 2026 to PQ UIN 115407.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions there have been with EU negotiators about what falls within scope of the term agri-food product for the purposes of the UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary agreement; and whether animal fur will be excluded from scope.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. The details of these are subject to negotiation, but the Government has been clear about the importance of being able to set high animal welfare standards. While those negotiations are ongoing, Defra cannot comment further however parliament will be informed when they are concluded.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the Seafish, Shellfish Association of Great Britain and the Crab and Lobster Management Group on the adequacy of the Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Crabs, Lobsters, Crawfish and Nephrops in helping to ensure the improvement of animal welfare standards.

The Government is committed to an evidence-based and proportionate approach to setting animal welfare standards for decapod crustaceans. As part of this, the Department has engaged with key stakeholders, such as the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, regarding current industry practices and standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to work with the UK’s zoos and aquariums to provide opportunities for conservation translocations and the reintroduction of native species as set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires zoos in Great Britain to undertake conservation work which can include where appropriate, the repopulation of an area with, or the reintroduction into the wild of, wild animals. Defra is committed to providing opportunities for the reintroduction of formerly native species where the benefits for the environment and people are clear.

Food and Rural Affairs, when the 3 Highly Protected Marine Areas that were designated in 2023 will be implemented.

The Marine Management Organisation has consulted on proposed byelaws to prohibit all commercial and recreational fishing within the three HPMAs and to prohibit anchoring within Allonby Bay HPMA. Decisions on these proposed HPMA byelaws will be taken in due course and any further management measures for the designated HPMAs will be introduced as necessary.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to implement the recommendations in the Independent Review into Public Sector Food Procurement, published in May 2024.

The Government is currently considering the policy options available to deliver further on our ambitions for public sector food and catering. We are engaging with stakeholders across public sector supply chains and are carefully reflecting on possible policy options. The findings of the Independent Review into Public Sector Food Procurement will be considered as part of this ongoing policy development process.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of animal welfare enforcement in commercial pig farms; and what steps she is taking to ensure that audit and inspection processes lead to (a) timely investigation, (b) transparency and (c) meaningful sanctions where breaches are identified.

All farm animals are protected by comprehensive and robust animal health and welfare legislation, and potential breaches of the law are taken very seriously. We are actively working with enforcement authorities to reform the way they collect and publish data of on-farm enforcement activities and the actions they take to support compliance and act on non-compliance. We will also explore whether the current enforcement tools used by our enforcement bodies are effective, proportionate and transparent.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) enforcement of the current illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing import controls.

The UK Government is strongly committed to preventing seafood caught from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing from entering the UK supply chain. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments, Marine Management Organisation and Port Health Authorities to manage the risk of illegally caught fish entering the UK. For example, the UK maintains a strict ban on seafood imports from countries that have been identified as non-cooperative in tackling IUU fishing as well as seafood caught by vessels included in the UK’s IUU vessel list identified as having engaged in IUU fishing. Controls are also in place to prevent foreign vessels accessing UK ports if suspected of engaging in IUU fishing. Furthermore, all wild-caught fish imported into the UK must be accompanied by validated catch certificates to ensure legality and traceability.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 75965 on Food: Public Sector, what her Department's planned timetable is for reviewing food purchased by the public sector; and how her Department plans to report where food procured by the public sector originated.

The Government is currently assessing what food the public sector buys and where it comes from. This will enable us to determine the extent to which public sector organisations are buying food from British producers, providing a baseline with which to measure progress.

Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for ensuring that half of all food purchased across the public sector is (a) locally produced and (b) certified to higher environment standards.

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. As a first step, we will be reviewing the food currently purchased by the public sector and its provenance to help inform our future approach on public sector food procurement.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the procurement of food that is locally produced or certified to higher environment standards.

Defra is responsible for the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF), which set the requirements for sourcing, cooking, and serving of food for central Government and executive agencies in England. Local authorities are encouraged to comply with these where possible. Further, we have already published a new national procurement policy statement which 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, with reference to consultation outcome document entitled Summary of responses and government response, published on 12 June 2025, what his Department's timetable is for implementing mandatory method-of-production labelling for (a) eggs, (b) pork and (c) chicken.

On 12 June 2025 we published the summary of responses and government response to the fairer food labelling consultation, which was undertaken last year by the previous government. The response is available here on GOV.UK. We recognise the strong support from the public and other stakeholders for clearer information for consumers on welfare standards for their food. We have also heard and understood the views raised on the detail of the consultation proposals by the many interested parties who have responded to this consultation. We will consider the potential role of method of production labelling reform as part of the ongoing development of the Government’s wider animal welfare and food strategies.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of a veterinary agreement with the EU on conservation.

As announced at the UK-EU Leaders' Summit on May 19, 2025, the UK and EU have agreed to work towards a common Sanitary and Phytosanitary Area. With the principles and framework of an SPS agreement now agreed, we will now negotiate the detail of an agreement that aims to reduce administrative burden by streamlining SPS checks and certification. Defra is committed to ensuring that the unique needs of the zoo and wildlife sector, particularly in relation to conservation animal transfers, are considered as part of this process – recognising the critical role that UK zoos and aquariums play in global conservation programmes. Defra is actively engaging with the zoo and wildlife and conservation sectors to better understand the challenges and opportunities faced. This engagement will help to secure the best possible outcome for the sector, and Defra remains committed to working closely with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver a future framework that supports the UK’s biosecurity, trade and conservation objectives.