Written questions by Barclay.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether statutory consultees are required to assess risks from (a) lithium-ion batteries and (b) gas canisters when reviewing fire prevention plans for energy-from-waste facilities.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 March to 119860, how many and what proportion of Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements had an annual value of over £100,000.

Between January 2025 to December 2025, there were 45,295 Sustainable Farming Incentive Agreements. 863 of these agreements had an annual value of over £100,000, which is 1.91% of the overall agreements.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of rising fertiliser costs on (a) farm profitability and (b) food security.

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of fertiliser, influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise, including to farmers. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments. The UK has a resilient food system, producing around 65% of all the food we eat. We have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, which supplements domestic production and ensures that any disruption from risks do not affect the UK's overall security of supply. Defra is monitoring risks posed by the Middle East conflict to our critical supply chains. At present, there are no significant impacts to the supply of consumer goods and food, and we do not expect any short-term disruption.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the removal of 31 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) actions on the projected average value of an SFI agreement.

The purpose of streamlining the offer is not to reduce overall support for the sector, but to ensure funding is focused on actions that deliver the greatest value for food production and the environment. The SFI26 offer includes 71 actions rather than 102, reflecting the removal of options that had low uptake or delivered limited environmental or productivity benefit. This ensures a simpler, fairer and better-targeted scheme. We have also introduced an annual agreement value cap of £100,000 to help spread funding across more farms and widen participation. Payment rates remain based on income-foregone-plus‑costs, and many actions continue to offer attractive returns. By improving accessibility and value for money, SFI26 supports long‑term farm profitability while enabling more businesses to benefit from agreements.

Food and Rural Affairs, in the last year for which figures are available, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements had a value of over £100,000.

From January 2025 to December 2025, there were 45,295 SFI Agreements. 6,439 of these had an agreement value of over £100,000 for the full 3-year lifetime of the agreement, which is 14.22% of the overall agreements.

Food and Rural Affairs, in the last year for which figures are available, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements included the GRH6 action.

Between January 2025 to December 2025, there were 19,824 SFI 24 Agreements. 663 of these agreements included the GRH6 action, which is 3.34% of the overall agreements.

Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to introduce a replacement for the UK Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme to ensure continued investment in UK horticulture and maintain competitiveness with European growers.

Future support for the horticulture sector is being considered alongside Defra’s work to simplify and rationalise agricultural grant funding, ensuring that grants deliver the most benefit for food security and taxpayer value. Our new Farming and Food Partnership Board, bringing together industry and government leaders, will also develop tailored growth plans for sectors including horticulture. We are already doing a great deal to support the sector. Of at least £200 million allocated to The Farming Innovation Programme (FIP) through to 2030, to date nearly £40 million—representing 26% of total awards—has been granted to research projects benefiting the sector offering targeted opportunities for fruit and vegetable businesses to become more profitable, resilient, and sustainable. Further opportunities for farmer and grower led trials to test ideas and solutions are also now available in FIP via ADOPT grants. Wider Government support includes: our five-year extension to the Seasonal Worker visa route, providing much needed stability and certainty to businesses; as well as extending the easement on import checks on medium risk fruit and vegetables ahead of the new SPS agreement deal with the EU.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to re-open the Sustainable Farming Incentive.

We are working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further details about the reformed SFI offer will be announced in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to publish the Farming Profitability Review.

Baroness Batters will present her report to the Defra Secretary of State at the end of October for consideration.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reduction in yields of main cereal crops in 2025 on farm profitability.

Cereals are internationally traded commodities, and their supply chains are dynamic and responsive to global market developments. The Government has closely monitored the 2025 harvest and continues to engage regularly with industry stakeholders to assess any implications this may have on the cereals sector. In addition, the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG) provides early warning of atypical market movements by tracking trends in prices, inputs, and trade.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Spring Statement 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to the funding of the Farming and Countryside Programme on the net number of hectares of farmland farmed in a nature-friendly way.

We are increasing the budget for sustainable farming and are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery. Funding for the Environmental Land Management Schemes paid to farmers will increase by 150% from £800 million in 2023/24 to £2 billion by 2028/29. As a result of the Government’s determination to get more farmers to participate, there are now 50,000 farm businesses and half of all farmed land now managed under our schemes – with more money being spent through these schemes than at any point.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency is taking steps to (a) control and (b) report on the potential risk of toxic contamination from the use of (i) recycled Energy Recovery Facilities incineration ash residue and (ii) Air Pollution Control Residue in building materials.

As was the case when he was Secretary of State for Defra, the ash residue from energy recovery facilities is normally processed into incinerator The bottom ash aggregate (IBAA). IBAA can only be used under the terms of a regulatory position statement (RPS) or a permit issued by the Environment Agency (EA). The EA have risk assessed the use of IBAA. The RPS sets out placement limitations which allows use of IBAA whilst retaining protection of the environment. If the RPS cannot be met, a site-specific permit and risk assessment is required. Where a permit is issued there is a requirement to report. Air Pollution Control Residue can only be used as a building material when that material has met the criteria for end-of-waste, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. This requires that the material must be of no significantly greater risk to the environment or human health than the non-waste-derived equivalent.

Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timeline for for the proposed Fens Reservoir is for the (a) submission of a development consent order application to the Planning Inspectorate, (b) final decision on the development consent order application, (c) construction work to start on site, (d) construction work to finish on site, and (e) for the reservoir to be operational.

Anglian Water is responsible for the development of the Fens reservoir. Proposals will be consulted on and will follow the requirements of the National Policy Statement for Water Resources Infrastructure. A traffic and transport assessment is currently underway and further information will be shared with communities as part of the next phase of consultation this Autumn. Anglian Water will submit the application for a Development Consent Order in 2027. The determination of the application by the Secretary of State is expected in 2028/29 and should Development Consent be granted, construction of the reservoir will start in 2029/30.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 5 February 2025, HCWS417 on the Flood Investment Announcement, whether he plans to provide additional support to local authorities impacted by increases to Internal Drainage Board special levies.

The government supports the important work internal drainage boards (IDBs) do in managing water and flood risk, benefiting communities, businesses and the environment. The government announced as part of the 2025-26 Local Government Finance Settlement, that it will provide £5 million in funding for the local authorities most impacted by IDB levies. On 31st March 2025 the government also announced an additional £16 million boost to the IDB Fund to support greater flood resilience for farmers and rural communities. The Fund has increased from £75 million to £91 million to provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade assets and this will help reduce future cost increases. Defra has also committed to work with the IDB sector and MHCLG to review IDBs’ current funding and costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 July 2024 to Question 1488 on Agriculture: Food Supply, what preparations his Department has made for the 2025 Farm to Fork Summit.

The department is planning to engage closely with key stakeholders from across the food system over the coming months. We will confirm the details of possible future events in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of recent developments in Russia's war in Ukraine on food security in the UK.

British reliance on food supplies from Ukraine is currently low. Defra actively monitors risks to UK food security on an ongoing basis. The UK Food Security Report, which was published in December, examines past, current, and future trends relevant to food security to present a full and impartial analysis of UK food security.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many Environment Agency permits allowing the importation of waste from outside the UK are in effect; and if he will provide a list of sites covered.

The Environment Agency currently has 208 notifications to import waste, which is recovered at 86 sites. The sites and the number of notifications to each site are listed in the table below: FacilityFacility Postal CodeNumber of notifications (permits)3R Technology UK LimitedPR2 5BB1A-Gas UK LtdBS20 7XH3Airbag Disposal (UK) LtdS9 1BG5AO RECYCLING LIMITED T/A A O Recycling LtdTF7 4ER1AREERA LTDHX5 9JD1AUGEAN SOUTH LIMITEDPE8 6XX1AUGEAN TREATMENT LIMITEDBS11 0YA1 TS2 1UE1AVANTI ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP LIMITED T/A Tradebe KnowsleyL33 7SG1BALCAN ENGINEERING LIMITEDLN9 6RJ1BASF Metals Recycling LtdGL14 2PH5BIP ORGANICS LIMITEDCW10 0QF8BOC LtdDN41 8DZ1Britannia Refined Metals Ltd.DA11 9BG2BRUCE METALS LIMITEDS9 5DQ1CARBON LINK LIMITEDDN40 2QR1CENTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDCW10 0QF4CHEMOXY INTERNATIONAL LIMITEDTS3 6AF1CLEAN PAK LIMITEDHU2 0PU1CNC RECYCLING LIMITEDTS25 2DF1COMPUTER SALVAGE SPECIALISTS (SPECIAL WASTE) LIMITEDRG19 4ND1CPL PRODUCTS LIMITEDDN40 2QR4DARTMOUTH GLOBAL TRADING CO. LIMITEDDY2 0AF3Eco Option (UK) LtdCW9 7XU1Ecobat Resources UK LtdDE4 2LP18ECOBAT SOLUTIONS UK LIMITEDWS10 8JR3ELECTRICAL WASTE RECYCLING GROUP LIMITEDHD5 0JS1ELG UTICA ALLOYS LIMITEDS63 5AB1ENVA BATTERY RECYCLING LIMITEDDN40 2LF2ENVA ENGLAND SPECIALIST WASTE LIMITEDNG22 8UA2ENVA PLASTICS LIMITEDPE10 ODN2ENVIRONCOM (NORTH WEST) LTD.DY9 7DP1EUROPEAN METAL RECYCLING LIMITEDL20 1BX1S014 5AP1 WS10 8LW1EUROPEAN METAL RECYCLING LIMITED T/A Mayer Parry LtdCB8 7ND1European metal Recycling LtdNW10 6QY2FBM METALS (UK) LIMITEDDN41 8DF3FORTIS IBA (SOUTH EAST) LIMITEDME9 8SR1FORTIS IBA LIMITEDSO21 3QS1GEOCYCLE UK LIMITEDST10 3EQ1Greenway Environmental LimitedL20 8JB1H J Enthoven LimitedDE4 2LP1H RIPLEY & CO. LIMITEDTN23 6LR1IBSTOCK BRICK LIMITEDBN84BA1INNOVATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS UK LTDB69 3EL1JBM INTERNATIONAL LTDST18 0PY5JBR Recovery LtdB70 9BS3JOHNSON MATTHEY PLCEN3 7PW18JSP LIMITEDOX29 7PL3KEELING & WALKER LIMITEDST4 4JA1LAFARGE CAULDON LIMITEDST10 3EQ2MASTERMELT LIMITEDSK17 9RZ2Mastermelt Refining Services LimitedSK17 9RZ11MICK GEORGE LIMITEDCH65 1BL1MIL-VER METAL COMPANY LIMITEDCV6 6AP1MORRIS & CO. (HANDLERS) LIMITEDDN4 8DE1N&P CRAYFORD MRF LIMITEDDA1 4QG1NEWBURY FERTILISERS LTDME9 9PB2OIL SALVAGE LIMITEDL20 1AS2OXFORD PLASTIC SYSTEMS LIMITEDOX7 4NP1P A MOODY RECYCLING LIMITEDNE10 0ES3PLAZ-TEC LTDSK11 9HS1PORT OF TILBURY LONDON LIMITEDRM18 7EH1Re Group (Reclaim) LtdHU7 1RR1S. NORTON & CO LIMITEDL20 8RQ4SAR RECYCLING LTDDN40 2DW1SIMS METAL LIMITEDCV37 8AQ1SONOCO CORES AND PAPER LIMITEDHX4 9PY1SUBCOAL PRODUCTION TSP LTDTS2 1TT1TATE MEDICAL ENGINEERING LIMITEDLS21 3BB1TECHEMET LIMITEDB77 5DY1TEMPLEBOROUGH BIOMASS POWER PLANT LIMITEDS60 1FA2TRACKWORK LIMITEDDN3 1RA2Tradebe Heysham LtdLA3 3JW6TRADEBE NORTH WEST LIMITEDCH65 4EY1Tradebe Solvent Recycling LtdLA3 3JW2SL7 1EY1SR1 2ES2 TN31 7TE11TWINWOODS HEAT & POWER LIMITEDMK44 1FD1VEKA RECYCLING LIMITEDNN8 4PE1VEOLIA ES (UK) LIMITEDL19 8EG8 S21 2DR1VEOLIA UK (UK) LIMITEDCH65 4EQ1Tradebe Fawley LtdSO45 3NX2

Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers have received funding through the Farming Resilience Fund since it was established.

The Farming Resilience Fund provides free business support to farmers and land managers in England to help them through agricultural transition. It was set up to available from October 2022 and will run until March 2025. Across all three phases of the Farming Resilience Fund, our delivery partners have provided specialist one-to-one advice to 26,088 farmers (as of 25 February).

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of aligning the controls on shotguns with that of other firearms on financial costs to farm businesses.

The consultation on the recommendation made to the Home Office on aligning the controls on shotguns with other firearms, as set out in the Government response to the consultation, “Firearms Licensing: a consultation on recommendations for changes made to the Home Office” and published on 13 February, will be published later this year. The necessary impact assessments will be published with that consultation.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many times his Department has met representatives of (a) Greenpeace, (b) Just Stop Oil and (c) Extinction Rebellion since 4 July 2024.

Ministers have met with Greenpeace and discussions continue at an official level. There have not been any meetings with Just Stop Oil or Extinction Rebellion.