Written questions by Braverman.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that the Planning Inspectorate has full access to environmental, technical and financial risk assessments before considering the Development Consent Order for the Havant Thicket scheme.

The Development Consent Order application for the Hampshire Water Transfer and Water Recycling Scheme, linked to Havant Thicket Reservoir scheme in construction, will provide interested parties a further opportunity to make representations to a Planning Inspector on this scheme.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to review the regulatory framework governing effluent recycling to ensure independent scrutiny and auditing of any future plant, in line with international practice.

The Regulators’ Alliance for Progressing Infrastructure Development (RAPID) brings together the three water regulators Ofwat, Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate. RAPID is enabling the right regulatory frameworks and provides a robust process to scrutinise strategic water resource options to ensure they are appropriate and deliverable. For any water recycling proposal to proceed, water companies will need to show how they will meet planning and permitting requirements. This includes protection for the environment and public health.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of administrative and financial processes that small businesses are required to follow by the non‑household water retail market; and whether she plans to reform that market to help reduce those processes for small businesses.

We ensure the water retail market is operating effectively and acting as a vehicle to support economic growth and reduce burdens for businesses.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with OFWAT regarding the accessibility of its public contact channels; and what steps are being taken to ensure that members of the public receive timely responses to enquiries.

Customers can contact Ofwat by phone, post, email and via the website. Ofwat’s Customer Enquiries and Disputes (CED) team has worked hard over the past year to improve the timeliness of responses to customers which was impacted by increased contacts to Ofwat last year.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the effectiveness of transparency of pricing information provided by non‑household water retailer; and what steps she is taking to ensure that small businesses can access clear, complete and comparable quotations for water and wastewater services.

The water retail market enables businesses, charities and public sector organisations in England to choose their retailer. This market can help to deliver lower bills and lead to improved services. If customers are not satisfied with the service they receive, they are free to switch to alternative retailers. The water retail market is closely regulated and there are measures in place to protect customers. The Customer Protection Code of Practice states that information provided to non-household customers shall be in clear and plain language, complete, accurate and not misleading. Ofwat also set limits on the price customers pay if they have not switched or renegotiated a new deal, to prevent them losing out.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of MOSL’s administrative overheads on levels of investment in water infrastructure; and whether she has considered changes to ensure that increased funding is directed to frontline services.

Market Operator Services Ltd (MOSL) is the not-for-profit operator of the non-household (business) retail water market. MOSL is funded through market operator charges levied on retailers and wholesalers, rather than through customer bills or capital investment allowances. MOSL costs have no bearing on the levels of investment that Ofwat permits water companies to make in infrastructure. MOSL is a relatively small organisation in the context of the wider water sector. For 2025-2026, MOSL's annual budget of expenditure is £13.7m, which will be funded through Market Operator (MO) charges. These costs represent a very small proportion of overall expenditure in the water sector; by way of comparison industry total expenditure in the next regulatory period is anticipated to around £20 billion per year. Decisions on infrastructure investment are driven by Ofwat's price review process and water companies' statutory obligations.

Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason small businesses are prohibited from purchasing water and wastewater services directly from local water companies; and whether she plans to review this restriction.

Businesses, charities and public sector organisations are free to choose their water retailer for water or sewerage services. Advice for customers on choosing their retailer can be found on Ofwat’s website.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to consult landowners, rural organisations and local authorities before introducing legislation to ban trail hunting.

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential economic and social impact on rural communities of proposals to ban trail hunting.

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of banning trail hunting on the additional enforcement resources that would be required by police forces.

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department plans to issue to local authorities on implementing and enforcing a ban on trail hunting.

Enforcing a ban on trail hunting will be a matter for the police.

Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence her Department has used to inform its decision to bring forward proposals to ban trail hunting in England.

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of banning trail hunting on land management practices, including pest control and countryside access.

This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting in line with our manifesto commitment. The Government intends to hold a public consultation to seek views on an effective, enforceable ban. As part of that consultation, the Government plans to seek evidence from all concerned to ensure that the legislation that is brought forward is effective in practice and its potential impact is understood. The Government will consider the responses to the consultation carefully in developing our proposals’ as there is nothing further we can say at the moment.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether alternative regulatory options were considered before deciding to ban on trail hunting.

Alternative regulatory options were considered by Ministers but it was decided a ban was the most effective way of implementing the manifesto commitment to ban trail hunting.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle (a) late cancellations and (b) unfair payment practices impacting farmers and growers in the UK.

The Government is clear that fair, equitable and transparent supply chain practices are essential to the long-term resilience and security of the UK food system. We remain committed to tackling any contractual unfairness that exists in the agri-food supply chain, including any practices related to cancellations and late payments. Both the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and the sector-specific ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations made under the Agriculture Act 2020 are subject to statutory reviews, which will assess their effectiveness and inform any future developments. We maintain a regular dialogue on the relationship between the GCA and ASCA, to ensure that the system remains proportionate and fit for purpose.

Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Groceries Code Adjudicator and (b) the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator on improving protections for indirect suppliers.

The Government is clear that fair, equitable and transparent supply chain practices are essential to the long-term resilience and security of the UK food system. We remain committed to tackling any contractual unfairness that exists in the agri-food supply chain, including any practices related to cancellations and late payments. Both the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and the sector-specific ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations made under the Agriculture Act 2020 are subject to statutory reviews, which will assess their effectiveness and inform any future developments. We maintain a regular dialogue on the relationship between the GCA and ASCA, to ensure that the system remains proportionate and fit for purpose.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to support the creation of a unified regulator for the agricultural supply chain with statutory enforcement powers.

The Government is clear that fair, equitable and transparent supply chain practices are essential to the long-term resilience and security of the UK food system. We remain committed to tackling any contractual unfairness that exists in the agri-food supply chain, including any practices related to cancellations and late payments. Both the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and the sector-specific ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations made under the Agriculture Act 2020 are subject to statutory reviews, which will assess their effectiveness and inform any future developments. We maintain a regular dialogue on the relationship between the GCA and ASCA, to ensure that the system remains proportionate and fit for purpose.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of equitable supply chain practices on long-term food security.

The Government is clear that fair, equitable and transparent supply chain practices are essential to the long-term resilience and security of the UK food system. We remain committed to tackling any contractual unfairness that exists in the agri-food supply chain, including any practices related to cancellations and late payments. Both the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (GSCOP) and the sector-specific ‘Fair Dealing’ regulations made under the Agriculture Act 2020 are subject to statutory reviews, which will assess their effectiveness and inform any future developments. We maintain a regular dialogue on the relationship between the GCA and ASCA, to ensure that the system remains proportionate and fit for purpose.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on the (a) statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator and (b) Farming Profitability Review.

The Government is currently undertaking the fourth statutory review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA). The review considers the GCA’s effectiveness in enforcing the Groceries Code between 31 March 2022 and 1 April 2025. The review commenced on 1 April and a consultation to gather stakeholder views and evidence was published on 13 May with a closing date of 5 August. The Government is currently analysing responses to the consultation and will publish a report as soon as practicable. On the Farming Profitability Review, Baroness Minette Batters (BMB) was appointed in April as the lead reviewer. Baroness Batters will submit her report to the Secretary of State for consideration shortly.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) support domestic food production and (b) reduce reliance on imports.

To ensure a consistent supply of food, the UK relies upon a combination of strong domestic production from the UK’s agricultural and food manufacturing sectors, and a diverse range of overseas supply sources. Trade supports UK food supply resilience. This is due to the UK having diverse trade routes, strong international supply and purchasing power. At home, the Government’s recently published Food Strategy identifies priority outcomes for resilient domestic production for a secure supply of healthier food, and also to create conditions for the food sector to thrive and grow sustainably, including investment in innovation and productivity, and fairer more transparent supply chains. We have allocated £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.