Written questions by Logan.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that deforestation measures do not (a) exclude smallholder farmers from supply chains and (b) increase compliance costs for those farmers.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what safeguards will apply to protect smallholder farmers’ ownership and control of geolocation data collected for compliance with the Forest Risk Commodities regime.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what definition of endangered she proposes to use in legislation on banning imports of hunting trophies from endangered species.

The Government is committed to delivering on its manifesto commitment to ban the import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern. Defra is continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders to help determine the most appropriate scope for a ban. Species of conservation concern are listed primarily on Appendices I and II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) based on the level of threat that international trade poses to their conservation status.

Food and Rural Affairs, what import permits for hunting trophies have been issued by her department since July 2024 of species classified as near Threatened, Vulnerable Endangered or Extinct in the wild on the IUCN Red List.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) does not record the IUCN Red List status of species for trophy imports. The import of hunting trophies from species of conservation concern is controlled through the UK Wildlife Trade Regulations, which implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Permits are only issued when the strict conditions set out in the regulations are met. This includes demonstrating that the import will not have a detrimental effect on the conservation status of the species. Trade data up to 2024 is available on the CITES Trade Database CITES Trade Database.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her department is taking to support Scottish farmers with increases in fertiliser costs.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The fertiliser market is a global market, and while there is no immediate risk to UK supply, the market price in the UK is strongly influenced by international prices for fertiliser and by the value of the pound. The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is in close contact with domestic fertiliser suppliers and is monitoring overall supply to the UK. The Government remains ready to support businesses as effectively as possible in these challenging times.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

No, as agriculture is devolved, it will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland. The Sustainable Farming Incentive uses funds allocated to farmers in England only.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the new round of Environmental Land Management (ELM) Capital Grants.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Collaboration Fund.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Farming Innovation Programme.

The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund, Farming Innovation Programme, the new round of Environmental Land Management Capital Grants, the Farming Collaboration Fund, and the Poultry Support Grant will be funded from Defra’s Spending Review 2025 settlement. Spending Review 2025 also set funding for the Scottish Government reflecting the Barnett Formula for agricultural spending which is devolved. It will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland with the funding they have available.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether funding will be made available to the Scottish Government under the Barnett Formula from the Poultry Support Grant.

The Poultry Biosecurity Review uses funds allocated to farmers in England only. As agriculture is devolved, it will be for the Scottish Government to allocate any funding to farmers in Scotland. Overall, the spending review settlement for the Scottish Government is the largest settlement in real terms since devolution in 1998.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the letter entitled Statements on Water Quality issued by Professor Dame Carol Propper, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, published on 28 October 2025.

Defra policies are based on the best available analysis and evidence, including official statistics. All Official Statistics in Defra are produced in line with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics. Defra acknowledges the statement from the OSR and its findings.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to respond to correspondence of 5 September 2025 from the Hon Member for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, case reference SL03537, on water quality in Scotland.

A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared and will be issued as soon as possible.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the UK Statistics Authority publication entitled Letter from Professor Dame Carol Propper to Seamus Logan MP – statements on water quality published on 28 October 2025, and the Secretary of State's oral contribution of 4 September 2025, Official Report column 422, what the evidential basis is for his statement that water pollution levels in Scotland are worse than those in England.

The former Secretary of State’s statement on the quality of water in Scotland compared to England was based on statistics from Scottish Water, Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Ofwat, and the Environment Agency.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure the accuracy of data used by her Department, in the context of the letter entitled Statements on Water Quality by Professor Dame Carol Propper, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority published on 28 October 2025.

The accuracy of data and statistics are crucial for the development and monitoring of Defra policies, and crucial for ensuring public trust in those statistics. All Official Statistics in Defra are therefore produced in line with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has been made of the potential impact of Scotland's allocation under the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund on the development of the Scottish seafood sector's exports.

Funding for the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund is being allocated using the Barnett formula, in line with HM Treasury guidance. Each Devolved Government is responsible for determining how its share of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund supports its fishing and seafood sectors, including exports. Devolved Governments can choose to target investment in line with their local priorities and economic context.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, which stakeholders informed the decision to devolve that funding; and what proportion of those were based in devolved countries.

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments. On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding. This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending. Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities. The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Food and Rural Affairs, what evidential basis underpinned her decision to apply Barnett consequentials to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund.

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments. On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding. This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending. Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities. The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the contribution by the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs of 23 October 2025, col 1111, on the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, whether her intention to apply Pride in Place principles to the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund in the future will result in the allocation of additional funding to Scotland.

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments. On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding. This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending. Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities. The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the decision to allocate Barnett funding to the devolved administrations for the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund was announced on 20 October 2025, in the context of the press notice entitled Government to launch £360m Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, published on 19 May 2025.

At the Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 June 2025, Devolved Government Ministers set out their view that shares of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund (FCGF) should be devolved and administered by Devolved Governments. On the 20 October 2025, it was announced that the FCGF would be devolved and delivered by Devolved Governments. Ahead of the announcement, the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs confirmed allocations, using the Barnett formula in line with HM Treasury guidance for devolved policy areas such as fisheries, with Scotland expected to receive £28 million. The Government has no plans to review this level of funding. This funding is in addition to the wider Spending Review settlements, which provide devolved governments with at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending. Each administration has full discretion to target its share in line with local priorities, including seafood promotion and exports, and is responsible for engaging with its own industry. The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs continues to meet stakeholders across the UK and supports collaboration to maximise benefits for fishing and coastal communities. The FCGF is being developed to support coastal communities. As part of this, officials are exploring how the fund might align with broader place-based approaches, including principles similar to those used in the Pride in Place programme.We are working to finalise the necessary arrangements for the allocation of the FCGF and will provide an update on this to all Devolved Governments as soon as we are able to.