Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has provided to Natural England’s National Landscapes programme in each year since 2015.

We are unable to provide detailed information prior to 2022 due to time/cost involved. Limited landscape designation work was delivered and funding for this was from Natural England’s baseline’ settlement. Defra provided direct funding of £1.1 million per annum for years 2022/23 - 2024/25. As well as the four National Landscape designation cases, this covered wider work on landscape designations and alternatives. For 2025/26 the direct funding for National Landscape designation work was not continued. Natural England is using baseline budget to fund a reduced programme of landscape designation work.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the adequacy of his Department's guidance on the (a) labelling and (b) information on country of origin for beef products in (i) food service and (ii) retail.

The UK maintains high standards on the information provided both online and on food labels and packaging so that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy. A range of Defra guidance is available on the Gov.uk platform for both consumers and retailers. This guidance sets out the requirements for general food labelling and specific product labelling, including details on the country of origin for beef and other meats. Defra guidance on food labelling, including country of origin for beef products, is kept under regular review to ensure it remains accurate, up to date, and in line with current labelling regulations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the total area of land was in (a) entry-level agreements, (b) mid-tier countryside stewardship agreements, (c) higher tier countryside stewardship agreements and (d) higher-level stewardship schemes in each year since 2022.

Total area of land covered by Countryside Stewardship and Environmental Stewardship agreements: For Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (hectares), the figures were: 2022 - 453,7892023 - 513,2882024 - 603,6262025 - 574,676 For Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier (hectares) the figures were: 2022 - 459,3342023 - 567,4822024 - 660,5352025 - 594,952 For Higher Level Stewardship (hectares), the figures were: 2022 - 70,7292023 - 63,1632024 - 53,8322025 - 51,792 For Entry Level plus Higher Level Stewardship (hectares), the figures were: 2022 - 975,3072023 - 851,9672024 - 683,2712025 - 633,248 For Organic Entry Level plus Higher Level Stewardship (hectares), the figures were: 2022 – 63,2402023 – 44,5482024 – 22,8742025 - 19,736 Please note the following points: Year dates have been taken, as the agreement not being closed as of 01st Jan of each yearThe sum of each area-based revenue option capped at parcel total area has been used to calculate areasNote also that Rotational Options have not been included for either schemeDifferent agri-environment schemes and types of agreement can be carried out on the same physical piece of land, so the columns should not be summedThese figures are estimates based on the available dataThe numbers provided here do not match previously published figures from FCP on area under agri-environment schemes in England in 2024, due to slight differences in date and methodology, particularly around rotational optionsThe numbers provided here do not match figures from Agriculture in the UK due to methodological differences.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, whether he has held discussions with the Office for Environmental Protection on the timescales for expected compliance of each reporting zone.

There have been no discussions with the Office for Environmental Protection on this topic.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year the South East non-agglomeration zone is expected to become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year he estimates that the (a) West Yorkshire urban area; (b) Coventry and Bedworth, (c) Liverpool urban area, (d) Great London urban area, (e) Greater Manchester urban area, (f) Nottingham urban area, (g) Portsmouth urban area and (h) Reading and Wokingham urban area will become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which road links within the South East non-agglomeration zone are expected to exceed the nitrogen dioxide limit value in each of the last five calendar years of the non-compliance period.

The most recent national compliance assessment for 2023 reported one road link in the South East non-agglomeration zone as being in exceedance of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide. This road link is a stretch of the A34 in the Vale of White Horse. We don’t hold up-to-date detailed modelled projections to predict the impact of all current policies on future NO2 concentrations, however current indicative estimates suggest that this road link will become compliant with the limit value in 2028.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which localised hotspot is expected to delay compliance with the nitrogen dioxide limit value in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The localised hotspot in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is located on Stephenson Road A1058. The high nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations observed here are due to several local factors including high traffic volumes, queuing traffic, an incline in the road that requires vehicle acceleration and overhanging trees that partially trap pollution. There is considerable uncertainty in the estimate of when this location will become compliant with the annual mean NO2 limit value. The rest of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is expected to become compliant by 2029.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year the (a) West Midlands urban area, (b) Bristol urban area, (c) Sheffield urban area and (d) the Potteries are expected to become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, whether his answer is consistent with the 2023 National Compliance Assessment.

The answer to Question 39816 was based on a combination of data from the 2023 national compliance assessment and additional local monitoring data that does not typically meet the requirements for formal national reporting but was included in the response for completeness. The national assessment is designed to meet the location and data quality requirements of the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 which seek to represent general exposure to air pollution, rather than local pollution hotspots. For this reason, the answer to Question 39816 captured some additional locations where nitrogen dioxide concentrations in 2023 were above 40µg/m3.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which road links within 10 miles of Heathrow Airport are expected to exceed the nitrogen dioxide limit value in each of the last five calendar years of their non-compliance period.

The most recent national compliance assessment for 2023 did not report any road links within 10 miles of Heathrow Airport to be in exceedance of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide. Local monitoring as part of the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) process shows a small number of measurements in 2023 above 40µg/m3 at sites within a 10-mile radius of Heathrow Airport. There were single measurement sites above 40µg/m3 in the London Boroughs of Brent (A404), Wandsworth (A3), Richmond (A205), Merton (A219) and Kensington & Chelsea (A3220), and three measurement sites in Ealing (A4020, A40 and A406). National Highways’ assessments also indicated concentrations above 40µg/m3 at four road links on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). These are in the London Boroughs of Hounslow (two road links on the M4), Hillingdon (M4), and Spelthorne (A316). Air quality assessments under LAQM are assessed differently to the national assessment as they are focused on targeting local pollution hotspots which may occur in locations that don’t meet the data quality requirements for the national assessment.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, which road links within 10 miles of Gatwick airport are expected to exceed the nitrogen dioxide limit value in each of the last five calendar years of their non-compliance period.

The most recent national compliance assessment for 2023 did not report any road links within 10 miles of Gatwick Airport to be in exceedance of the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide. There were also no exceedances reported through the Local Air Quality Management process in 2023.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Air Quality Standard Regulations 2010 in achieving reductions in nitrogen dioxide levels in ambient air.

There are currently no plans to assess the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010. We assess the effectiveness of schemes to reduce nitrogen dioxide through the NO2 Programme’s evaluation programme. In addition, the revised Environmental Improvement Plan, due to be published later this year will review and clarify targets set under the Environment Act 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support brewers meet the costs of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme.

The government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). This is a major reform that will be iterated over several years to incentivise packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and use more sustainable packaging. Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the brewing and hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023 in achieving reductions in concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ambient air.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan is due to include further details on fine particulate matter targets set under the Environment Act 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget is for the Farming and Countryside Programme for 2025-26 by category in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024, published on 10 September 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12th March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide the 2024-25 spend figures to date for the Farming and Countryside Programme to match the categories set out in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants there were to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in (i) 2023 and (ii) each year since its creation.

The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) runs from 01 January – 31 December. In relation to the 2023 scheme year, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received 32 successful applications by recognised Producer Organisations (POs). There were no unsuccessful applications during the same period. The scheme was first introduced in 1996 and the number of UK-recognised Producer Organisations (POs) has varied overtime, but now there are 32 F&V POs across the UK. Each recognized PO will submit an application for an operational programme (OP) or amendment to that OP each year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in each year since its inception; and how much and what proportion of that funding was spent.

Prior to 2021 the scheme was EU funded. The Secretary of State did not allocate any direct funding to The Fruit & Vegetable Aid Scheme started in 2021 governed by EU rules before this time. Since then, £117,794,154.23 has been spent The breakdown of actual UK funding spent on the scheme post EU exit is as follows: 2021 - £39,056,567.83 (£35,999,480.17 England only)2022 - £40,110,883.98 (£34,460,975.86 England only)2023 - £38,626,702.42 (£35,393,728.71 England only)2024 - claims still being assessed.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support he is providing to low carbon farming.

Our Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), funded by a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, are paying farmers to take up land management practices that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has also spent £51.8 million through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), with a further £98 million committed to ongoing projects in support of Agri-technology research and innovation. FIP competitions for 2025/26 will include up to £12.5 million for the Net Zero Farming thematic competition. Since 2021, Defra’s Farming Investment Fund awarded more than 11,000 grants worth over £130 million to farmers, growers and foresters to invest in technology, equipment and infrastructure, much of which supports low carbon farming practices. Of this, £107 million was through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). The next window of FETF will launch in Spring 2025.