Written questions by Jermy.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to empower local community initiatives, farms, and schools to implement practical food and nature education; and how her Department is measuring their impact.

The food strategy recognises the key role that regional and local food systems can play in supporting delivery of the growth, health, sustainability, and food security/ resilience outcomes. Defra wants to create an environment that champions UK food cultures and celebrates British food. Connecting local communities can be a key vehicle for achieving this outcome and for harnessing a stronger food culture. As we develop the food strategy, we will be considering how we can better support local and place-based initiatives, to deliver the changes needed to deliver our outcomes. The Government will consider the approach to monitoring and evaluation as we develop the outcomes and delivery mechanisms.

Food and Rural Affairs, what dedicated funding streams exist across Departments to support food, nature, and sustainability education.

The majority of grant schemes administered by the department relate to Food or Nature outcomes, with grant funding being the primary funding stream used to support these outcomes. Details of all Defra grant schemes are recorded on the Government Grants Information System (GGIS), in line with cross‑government transparency requirements. Government grants data and statistics are published annually by the Cabinet Office in Official Statistics and are publicly available. These statistics include the full Defra portfolio. The most recent publication covers Financial Year 2023/24, and is available on GOV.UK, at the following link: Government grants data and statistics - GOV.UK. Data for Financial Year 2024/25 will be published later this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will take steps to stop the expansion of low-welfare farms.

All farms, regardless of size and type of production system, must comply with comprehensive animal welfare legislation.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to introduce farming payments to help support animal welfare outcomes.

Since 2023, farmers in England have been able to access funding through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to improve livestock health and welfare while supporting farm productivity and sustainability. This support covers annual veterinary reviews, disease testing, and capital grants, including the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (which provides animal welfare grants) and the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. To date, we have funded more than 10,000 vet visits. Full details of available support are published on GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of ending the routine culling of day-old male chicks in the UK egg industry; and whether she plans to encourage the use of in-ovo sexing technology through the development of an animal welfare strategy.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 9 July 2025 to the hon. Member for Stockport, PQ UIN 64121.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to introduce the activity regulations for the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023.

The Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Act 2023 provides a framework for the introduction of future bans on the advertising and offering for sale, in England and Northern Ireland, of low-welfare animal activities abroad. We continue to engage with stakeholders including the tourism industry and animal welfare groups to explore both legislative and non-legislative options to stop the advertising of low-welfare animal activities abroad and will be setting out next steps in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support his Department plans to provide to help farmers transition to higher-welfare, lower-input systems that are resilient to market shocks.

Defra offers financial support to farmers through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, which pays for health and welfare enhancements that will boost productivity, including funded vet visits.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people with disabilities were employed in his Department on 2 September 2025.

Information on the number of people declaring a disability by each Government department are published annually as part of Civil Service Statistics 2025, an accredited official statistics publication. Latest published data are as at 31 March 2025 and can be found at Table 29 of the statistical tables at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2025 Information for 31 March 2026 is due for publication in July 2026.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle waste crime.

The Government is committed to tackling waste crime. We are preparing significant reforms and have increased the Environment Agency’s (EA) funding to continue to increase the pressure on illegal waste operators. We will reform the waste carriers, brokers and dealers regime and the waste permit exemptions regime. This will make it harder for rogue operators to find work in the sector and easier for regulators to take action against criminals. In addition, our planned digital waste tracking reforms will make it harder than ever to mis-identify waste or dispose of it inappropriately. We have increased the EA’s total budget for 2025-26, including the amount available to tackle waste crime. This will enable EA to increase its frontline criminal enforcement resource in the Joint Unit for Waste Crime and area environmental crime teams by 43FTE. This will be targeted at activities identified as waste crime priorities using enforcement activity data and criminal intelligence. These include tackling organised crime groups, increasing enforcement activity around specific areas of concern such as landfill sites, closing down illegal waste sites more quickly, using intelligence more effectively, and delivering successful major criminal investigations.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 28814 on Lead: Paint, whether his Department is taking steps to help tackle toxic lead paint in (a) homes and (b) public buildings.

The Environmental Protection (Controls on Injurious Substances) Regulations 1992 banned the use of lead paint, except for certain specialist uses. Concerns over the presence of lead paint in private domiciles should be referred to a certified lead-based paint risk assessor, who can assist you in following the necessary steps, guidelines including safety protocols. Regarding public buildings, the HSE is responsible for regulating health and safety risks associated with paints and coatings, including those used in construction and refurbishment.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 14 February 2025 to Question 28814 on Lead: Paint, if he will make it his policy to issue updated guidance.

The Environmental Protection (Controls on Injurious Substances) Regulations 1992 banned the use of lead paint, except for certain specialist uses. Concerns over the presence of lead paint should be referred to a certified lead-based paint risk assessor, who can assist you in following the necessary steps, guidelines including safety protocols. The Government is not currently planning to release further guidance on lead paint.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the financial impact of waste crime on (a) England, (b) Norfolk and (c) South West Norfolk constituency in the last five years.

It is estimated that waste crime costs the English economy about £1 billion per year and that 20% of waste in England, or 38 million tonnes per year is handled illegally. We do not have a further breakdown of these figures at county or constituency level.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle environmental harm in (a) South West Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk.

The Environment Agency (EA) regulates businesses in energy, agriculture, and waste, and is the environmental regulator for water companies. It prosecutes polluters, protects against flood risk and coastal erosion, and is a Category 1 Responder under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, working with local responders during flood incidents. In Norfolk, the EA advises on planning applications and supports Local Planning Authorities in developing Local Plans, ensuring flood risk, climate change, and water environment issues are addressed. It partners with other organisations including Local Authorities and the Police to tackle environmental waste crime using an intelligence-led enforcement approach. The EA investigates poor water quality sites and implements pollution reduction actions. Regulation of water companies has increased significantly, with over 700 inspections of Anglian Water wastewater assets completed last year - more than the previous four years combined, with plans to double inspections again this year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many vehicles were seized for waste crime offences in (a) South West Norfolk constituency and (b) Norfolk in each of the last five years.

Local authorities in England are required to report fly-tipping incidents and enforcement actions, such as vehicle seizures, to Defra, which are published annually at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england. This data isn't available at a constituency level and excludes the majority of private-land incidents. The Environment Agency also has the power to seize vehicles suspected of being used in waste crime. The Environment Agency has not seized a vehicle in Norfolk or the South West Norfolk constituency since 2020.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many incidents of animal welfare abuse have been recorded on intensive livestock farms in (a) England and (b) Norfolk in each of the last five years.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) carries out regulatory duties and monitors compliance with animal welfare legislation through proactive and reactive inspections. The outcome of all animal welfare inspections is recorded on APHA systems according to a scoring system, where A and B scores indicate compliance, and C and D scores indicate non-compliance. The D score indicates specifically that the non-compliance identified resulted in unnecessary suffering. This data is not in the public domain.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of appointing an animal welfare expert to the Food Strategy board.

Members of the Food Strategy Advisory Board were selected as senior leaders who have a broad range of experience across the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector. Membership has been finalised. We are not looking to expand it at this time. The Board represents just one aspect of our engagement with stakeholders across the food supply system. The food strategy will articulate the outcomes required to deliver food system change.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to ban the (a) expansion of existing and (b) building of new industrial livestock farms.

The Government promotes efficient, competitive farming, but does not seek to favour large, or small-scale, farming operations. Farms of all sizes have a role to play in promoting sustainable UK agriculture. All farms must comply with comprehensive UK law on planning, animal health and welfare, veterinary medicines and environmental legislation. Planning authorities should determine applications for livestock buildings in accordance with their development plan or the National Planning Policy Framework.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of industrial livestock farming on the UK's capacity to reach its net zero targets.

As part of the cross-Whitehall Carbon Budget Delivery Plan 2023 (CBDP), Defra published 25 on-farm decarbonisation measures to reduce agricultural emissions and meet our Carbon Budget 4 to 6 commitments, including measures aimed at supporting livestock emissions reduction. To support ongoing delivery and identify further opportunities for emissions reduction, Defra is actively exploring ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through scientific research into livestock management, feed, and breeding. Looking ahead, the Government will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with statutory requirements. This will outline the next phase of the UK’s net zero pathway, including future policies to further decarbonise agriculture.

Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will appoint an expert in animal welfare to the Food Strategy board.

Members of the Food Strategy Advisory Board were selected as senior leaders who have a broad range of experience across the food system and reflect the diversity of the sector. Membership has been finalised. We are not looking to expand it at this time. The Board represents just one aspect of our engagement with stakeholders across the food supply system. The food strategy will articulate the outcomes required to deliver food system change.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled Avian Influenza Prevention Zone housing measures lifted, published on 12 May 2025, when the General Licence 45 for gamebird release in and near to special protection areas in England will be reissued.

There are currently no plans to reissue General Licence 45 for gamebird release on and near to Special Protection Areas in England. Anyone intending to release gamebirds on or near a Special Protection Area should apply to Natural England for an individual licence.