Written questions by Race.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to update regulatory requirements to (a) reduce and (b) eliminate the need for animal testing for (i) chemicals and (ii) pesticides where non-animal New Approach Methodologies are available.

The Government is committed to supporting the uptake and development of alternative methods to the use of animals in science. The Labour Manifesto includes a commitment to partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure that a future UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary veterinary agreement supports the role of (a) zoos and (b) aquariums in international conservation breeding programmes.

While we continue to work with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to address immediate challenges regarding EU trade– such as the availability of Export Health Certificates and Border Control Post capacity – our primary focus is on securing a long-term, sustainable solution through the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement with the EU. The SPS Agreement will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone aimed at reducing trade barriers and facilitating the safe and efficient movement of terrestrial and aquatic zoo animals. Our ambition is to reach an agreement that reduce administrative burden by streamlining SPS checks and certification, while upholding the UK’s commitment to ensure its biosecurity is protected within this future framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) Health Certification Requirements and (b) other veterinary and customs requirements on the cross-border movement of endangered species between the UK and the EU.

Defra continues to work closely with the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to address immediate challenges to the cross-border movement of endangered species, including the availability of Export Health Certificates and Border Control Post capacity. An SPS Agreement will establish a UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary Zone aimed at reducing trade barriers and facilitating the safe and efficient movement of terrestrial and aquatic zoo animals. Our ambition is to reach an agreement that reduces administrative burden by streamlining SPS checks and certification, while upholding the UK’s commitment to ensure its biosecurity is protected within this future framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent engagement he has had with (a) zoos and (b) aquariums on the inclusion of conservation animal transfers in a future UK-EU veterinary agreement.

We have worked closely with zoos and the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) to address challenges related to the movement of animals between the UK and the EU. This includes the availability of Export Health Certificates and to expedite requests for new EHCs, for breeding programmes where welfare concerns may arise. Our future priority is to secure the long-term UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement to reduce trade barriers and enable the safe and efficient movement of zoo animals. Our ambition is to reach an agreement that reduce administrative burden by streamlining SPS checks and certification, while upholding the UK’s commitment to ensure its biosecurity is protected within this future framework. Ministers have actively engaged with the zoo and wildlife sector through multiple visits and discussions to understand it’s challenges and opportunities. This dialogue will continue as we work together to support ongoing improvements.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Table 10 of the technical annex entitled The combined environmental land management offer, published on 19 March 2024, whether graziers grazing (a) cattle, (b) ponies and (c) native breeds at risk on moorland with a grazing density higher than that of designated low grazing areas due to (i) their geomorphology, (ii) climate and (iii) historic management practices are eligible for payments for actions for moorland and upland peat through the Environmental Land Management scheme.

The publication cited has been superseded by the following: Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme: expanded offer for 2024 - GOV.UKCountryside Stewardship Higher Tier: get ready to apply - GOV.UK The moorland offer is designed to help deliver our environmental objectives on moorland whilst supporting sustainable food production. Fundamental to sustainable grazing levels on moorland is the level of grazing pressure on that habitat over time. If this is right, then the grazing by preferential livestock (cattle and ponies) gives additional environmental outcomes. The cattle and pony grazing supplemental actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier are designed to support this and provide tiered payments which reward their level of delivery. They are only eligible with the livestock grazing on moorland actions (UPL1-3) to ensure the benefits of grazing with preferential livestock are not lost. These actions specify a grazing livestock density that cannot be exceeded. Supplemental actions supporting native breeds as risk on moorland aim to maintain or increase the number of rare native breed grazing livestock. These supplemental actions are only eligible with a base action. In SFI, applicants can choose to undertake a base action which does not limit grazing levels, for example Shepherding livestock on moorland actions (UPL7-UPL10).

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2025 to Question 43103 on Livestock: Moorland, what sources of (a) qualitative and (b) quantitative data his Department considered when setting the tiers of grazing densities in the Low Grazing Moorland options of the Environmental Land Management schemes.

All prospective Environmental Land Management scheme offers have been assessed for their potential impact against a range of environmental and cultural services, including carbon sequestration and biodiversity indicators. These have included qualitative assessments, drawing upon expert opinion and evidence reviews, as well as quantitative assessments, drawing upon published datasets.

Food and Rural Affairs, what evidential basis was used to underpin his Department's policy on Moorland grazing densities (grazing livestock units per hectare).

The Environmental Land Management scheme actions were designed and appraised using a variety of qualitative and quantitative data. Geomorphology, climate and historic management practices all combine to make each moorland unique. The offer therefore includes a range of actions that can be selected based on the needs of each moorland. This includes an annual moorland assessment to assess the habitats on each moorland and their condition to inform the choice of grazing actions.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the efficacy of the grazing densities (Livestock Grazing Unit Per Hectare) on the enhancement of Moorland biodiversity was discussed with Natural England's expert Science Advisory Committees before publication.

The actions were developed in liaison with specialists from Arms Lengths Bodies (Natural England, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Historic England and the Rural Payments Agency) and were assured by Arm’s Lengths Bodies to ensure they are effective in contributing to environmental targets and offer value for money.

Food and Rural Affairs, what consultation took place before setting the grazing densities (Livestock Grazing Unit Per Hectare) for all tiers of the Moorland Low Grazing Actions in Environmental Land Management schemes.

The actions were developed in consultation with stakeholder organisations from the agricultural and environmental sectors and through workshops with groups of farmers as well as with Arm’s Length Bodies (Natural England, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, Historic England and the Rural Payments Agency).

Food and Rural Affairs, what data analysis took place before Environmental Land Management scheme Low Grazing densities were published, to measure the difference or similarity in biodiversity enhancement achieved when an identical grazing density (grazing livestock unit per hectare) is applied to Moorland areas in different geographical and climatic regions of England.

The Environmental Land Management scheme actions were designed and appraised using a variety of qualitative and quantitative data. Geomorphology, climate and historic management practices all combine to make each moorland unique. The offer therefore includes a range of actions that can be selected based on the needs of each moorland. This includes an annual moorland assessment to assess the habitats on each moorland and their condition to inform the choice of grazing actions.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Fur (Import and Sale) Bill.

Defra is continuing to build the evidence base on the fur sector. This includes commissioning our expert Animal Welfare Committee on what constitutes responsible sourcing of fur. The report that they produce will support our understanding of the fur industry and help inform our next steps. In accordance with parliamentary convention, the Government will set out its formal position on this Bill when it receives its Second Reading.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor, what his planned timescale is for (a) agreeing, (b) implementing and (c) completing a Molinia reduction strategy across the more; what level of Molinia reduction he plans to secure; and who the senior responsible officer for the Molinia reduction strategy will be.

We fully support the recommendations of the independent review, which includes the recommendation to tackle the over domination of Molinia in some places on Dartmoor. Defra is supporting the establishment of the Land Use Management Group (LUMG) in the coming weeks. The LUMG will oversee the broader plan for restoring Dartmoor’s SSSIs, including the management of Molinia to benefit biodiversity, carbon and farming interests. The reduction of Molinia will require a strategic approach across large areas of Dartmoor and it will take time.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor, published on 12 December 2023, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the design of the (a) Sustainable Farming Incentive and (b) Countryside Stewardship scheme will facilitate retention of the number of semi-wild hill ponies on Dartmoor.

Our new moorland offer includes actions in the Sustainable Farming Incentive, available now, and new and amended actions to be included in Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier. We will confirm next steps in the rollout of Countryside Stewardship in due course. Through the new offer, we provide payment for grazing with both cattle and ponies and both cattle and ponies are eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. We are thereby removing the competition between the two as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We have also made clear within the new offer that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, in recognition that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances. We cannot, exclude either cattle or ponies from stocking density calculations. All livestock contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on moorland. On some moorland habitats (such as peatland), it is necessary to graze with low stocking densities to support habitat restoration and maintenance. If any livestock are excluded from the stocking density calculation, over grazing would result. This would prevent us achieving desired improvements in habitat condition. The moorland offer will be subject to monitoring and evaluation. Any change in the pony population during this time will be investigated and further mitigations will be explored if necessary.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the long-term conservation of Dartmoor's hill ponies.

Defra supports the long-term conservation of livestock and equines, including the Dartmoor Hill pony, by monitoring populations of pedigree livestock including native breeds which are published in an annual UK National Breed inventory and by protecting eligible native breeds at risk from culling during notifiable disease outbreaks. Through the expanded offer for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024, keepers of Dartmoor Hill Ponies on Dartmoor can also claim payment for grazing under the native breeds at risk supplement and pony/cattle grazing supplement.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make it his policy to rule out any reductions in the minimum population of Dartmoor's iconic semi-wild Hill Ponies as part of future land management or environmental strategies for the Dartmoor area.

Through the new offer we will be providing payment for grazing with both cattle and ponies and making both cattle and ponies eligible under the native breeds at risk supplement. We are thereby removing the competition between the two as recommended in the Dartmoor review. We have also made it clear within the new offer that ponies are exempt from stock removal requirements, in recognition that removal of ponies from moorland is neither feasible nor desirable in most circumstances. We cannot, exclude either cattle or ponies from stocking density calculations. All livestock contribute to the overall grazing pressure exerted on moorland. On some moorland habitats (such as peatland), it is necessary to graze with low stocking densities to support habitat restoration and maintenance. If any livestock are excluded from the stocking density calculation, then over grazing would result. This would prevent us achieving desired improvements in habitat condition. The new moorland offer will be subject to monitoring and evaluation, particularly in the first year. Any change in the pony population during this time will be investigated and further mitigations will be explored if necessary.