Written questions by Yemm.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of reform to wastewater management, including on the potential merits of a polluter pays principle to fund additional treatment to remove chemical pollution from wastewater containing PFAS.

The Government is committed to improving our water environment through tackling harmful pollutants in wastewater. Following the publication of the White Paper, ‘A new vision for water’ , the Government is currently exploring a range of reforms, including to the Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations 1994. The aim is to deliver a more systematic approach to drainage and wastewater management, including enabling pre-pipe solutions, to drive the best outcomes for customers and the environment. Additionally, over the next five years, over £10 billion is being spent on storm overflows investment in England, improving over 2,500 storm overflows to reduce spills. In addition, nearly £5 billion is being invested in upgrades at wastewater treatment works to remove phosphorus – a key cause of nutrient pollution in the environment. The Government has also changed the law so regulators can recover costs of enforcement, meaning polluters pay, not the public. As a result, Environment Agency funding will rise by 64%, enabling more enforcement officers, better equipment, and the latest technology.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department took to undertake due diligence on (a) the Legacy Landscapes Fund and (b) the potential impact of that Fund on the rights of indigenous peoples.

Defra undertakes due diligence assessments on Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes in order to understand and mitigate programmatic risks and gain assurance on capacity and capability of delivery partners. Following best practice, Defra commissioned comprehensive due diligence on the Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF) prior to funding. This objectively assessed LLF against a wide range of indicators, including programme delivery, safeguarding and risk management. Particularly related to Indigenous Peoples, the due diligence considered LLF’s detailed Environmental & Social Management System, which informs risk analysis and mitigation in its landscapes, and LLF’s requirements around Indigenous Peoples’ Plans, which aim to ensure programme funding fosters full respect for the identity, dignity, human rights, economies, and cultures of Indigenous peoples. Overall, the due diligence scored the fund positively against the indicators assessed.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to outlaw the consumption of dog meat.

The Government has seen no evidence that dog meat is being sold or consumed in this country. There are strict rules for food businesses on the slaughter and production of meat for human consumption in the United Kingdom and dog or cat meat would not be permitted under these requirements. We also have specific laws on the sale of food in England which are enforced under the Novel Foods Regulation 2018. These regulations make it an offence to sell dog or cat meat in England.