Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to fund flooding defence systems in winter 2025-26.

This Government is investing £2.65 billion over two years (2024/25 and 2025/26) into our flood resilience. Since July last year, the Environment Agency has delivered 151 flood defence schemes, better protecting over 24,000 homes and businesses. It is poised to deliver more, across all of England, benefiting thousands of homes, supporting economic growth and unlocking new land for development. Following years of under-investment, we inherited flood defences in their worst state on record – the condition of key defences in England was at the lowest it had been since 2009/10. By redirecting £108 million into urgent flood and coastal defence maintenance we have halted the decline.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department holds data on the average insurance premiums for properties in each flood risk zone in each of last five years.

Flood Re is a joint Government and industry scheme enabling households at high flood risk to access affordable insurance. Since launch, over 650,000 properties have benefitted, with 346,000 policies supported in 2024/25. Before Flood Re, average premiums for flood-affected homes were around £4,400; now they are approximately £1,100. Defra continues working with Flood Re and insurers to monitor affordability, support resilience, and improve outcomes through schemes like Build Back Better and the PFR Grant, alongside engagement with industry leaders at an insurance roundtable to ensure access to affordable coverage and fair claims for flood-prone homes.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding the Environment Agency received for river and stream maintenance in each of the last five years.

As the EA operates at arm’s length from its sponsor department, Defra, it is for the EA to determine how much of its budget it spends on maintenance under its remit.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding the Environment Agency received in each of the last five years.

The EA’s total budget for 2025/26 is £2,274 million. This is an increase of £188 million compared with its £2,086 million budget in 2024/25. YearTotal budget2025/26£2,274m2024/25£2,086m2023/24£1,961m2022/23£1,704m2021/22£1,627m

Whether her Department plans to exempt (a) unaccompanied children seeking to reunite with parents already in the UK and (b) families facing (i) conflict, (ii) persecution and (iii) medical emergencies from future changes to refugee family reunion.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of (a) gathering documentation and (b) submitting biometrics on people submitting refugee family reunion applications; and whether she plans to reduce those requirements in future changes to refugee family reunion.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to strengthen the requirements on companies to (a) map and (b) assess the health of their assets.

The Government is preparing to respond to the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission, including on the extent and enforcement of current water industry mapping requirements and condition assessments. Reforms outlined in this response will form the basis of a new water reform bill to be introduced early in this Parliament.

Whether the review of refugee family reunion will consider the optimisation of decision making to reduce the need for appeals.

The family reunion route is temporarily suspended for a short period until Spring 2026. The Home Office is reviewing the route, with the intention to set out and implement those changes from then.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, what progress her Department has made on responding to the recommendations in that report.

The Government has already responded to a number of Sir Jon’s recommendations, as set out in the statement made by the previous Secretary of State on 21 July.  This set out the Government’s intention to establish a single regulator for water, to include a regional element within the new regulator, to establish a new statutory water ombudsman, to end operator self-monitoring and transition to Open Monitoring, and to issue an interim Strategic Policy Statement to Ofwat and give Ministerial directions to the Environment Agency, setting out our expectations and requirements. The Government will respond to the recommendations in full via a White Paper, published later this year. The White Paper will outline the Government’s vision for the future of the water sector, marking the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation. Following this, we plan to introduce a new water reform bill, bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors, and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on publishing a national water strategy.

The Independent Water Commission, tasked by the Government to produce recommendations to transform how our water system works, delivered its final report on 21 July 2025. The Government will respond to the recommendations in full, including on the recommendation to publish a national water strategy, via a White Paper. The White Paper will outline the Government’s vision for the future of the water sector, marking the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation. Following this, we plan to introduce a new water reform bill, bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors, and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on abolishing Ofwat.

Alongside the recommendations which the Government responded to on 21 July, the Commission examined many other areas within its remit, to ensure that water sector regulation delivers for environmental, public health, customer and economic outcomes. This is reflected in the recommendations in Sir Jon’s final report, including recommendations intended to create a single powerful regulator to help provide the clarity and stability investors need to bring forward billions of pounds of funding, driving jobs, skills and growth across the country.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to consult on the introduction of a national social tariff.

The Government is considering the Independent Water Commission’s recommendation to consult on a National Social Tariff and will respond later this year. Through the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025, it has expanded powers to create improved affordability support schemes, helping water companies better identify and assist eligible customers. However, due to the complexities involved and the need for consultation and Parliamentary approval, no specific policies or timelines can yet be confirmed. In the meantime, the Government expects the water industry to continue reviewing existing support schemes to protect vulnerable customers.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to revise the legal framework for the Strategic Policy Statement and replace this with a new Ministerial Statement of Water Industry Priorities.

The Government will respond to the recommendations published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission through a White Paper and a new water reform bill, including reforms to the Strategic Policy Statement. We will bring forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors and the environment and restore trust and accountability. Together with the building blocks the Government has already put in place, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on establishing a new integrated water industry regulator.

Alongside the recommendations which the Government responded to on 21 July, the Commission examined many other areas within its remit, to ensure that water sector regulation delivers for environmental, public health, customer and economic outcomes. This is reflected in the recommendations in Sir Jon’s final report, including recommendations intended to create a single powerful regulator to help provide the clarity and stability investors need to bring forward billions of pounds of funding, driving jobs, skills and growth across the country.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to make an assessment of how effectively public health can be incorporated into a new water framework.

Public Health outcomes are a key gap in the current legislative framework. The Independent Water Commission recommended the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales establish taskforces to review the incorporation of public health better into the water legislative framework. The Government will work closely with the Chief Medical Officers and the Department of Health and Social Care to consider how to best create a legal framework that reflects latest research around public health outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to ensure future water monitoring programmes are (a) reviewed and (b) resourced to reflect the state of the environment.

The Government will respond to the recommendations in full via a White Paper, published later this year. The White Paper will outline the Government’s vision for the future of the water sector, marking the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation. Following this, we plan to introduce a new water reform bill, bringing forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors, and the environment.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to provide a regulatory framework to drive the adoption of water re-use infrastructure in the (a) household and (b) non-household markets.

The Secretary of State will respond to recommendations in the Independent Water Commission in the upcoming White Paper publication. A consultation launched on 23 September 2025 proposes tightening Building Regulations that could see new homes fitted with Water Saving features, such as aerated taps and showerheads, and dual flush toilets. Strengthened Water Efficiency Standards through updated Building Regulations will boost housebuilding and keep more money in families’ pockets. Updated standards will bolster drought resilience and unblock developments in water scarce areas. Future innovations such as using harvested rainwater to flush toilets are also being considered in a call for evidence running alongside the consultation.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the report entitled Independent Water Commission: review of the water sector, updated on 29 July 2025, whether she plans to introduce a comprehensive systems planning framework with responsibility for (a) integrated and (b) holistic water system planning.

The Government will respond to the recommendations published in the final report of the Independent Water Commission through a White Paper. We will bring forward root and branch reform to secure better outcomes for customers, investors and the environment and restore trust and accountability. Together with the building blocks the Government has already put in place, this will mark the most fundamental reset to our water system in a generation. The Government's day-one response committed to a regional approach to water system planning, including a catchment-based model to strengthen local involvement and tackle all sources of water pollution more effectively.

How she communicates to migrants in France about the route to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France.

Information about applying to the scheme is available online at the following link: UK/European Applicant Transfer Scheme - GOV.UK and applications continue to be received from migrants in France seeking to come to the UK. We continue to monitor engagement with the scheme to ensure it is being accessed by those wishing to consider making an application.

How many people have been transferred from France to the UK under the Migration Treaty with France.

The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa applications and outcomes as part of the Immigration System Statistics quarterly release. Data for all visa types, including for those arriving via the UK-France Agreement on the Prevention of Dangerous Journeys, will be included within the entry clearance visas data tables.The Home Office is committed to publishing further data at the end of the pilot period in 2026.As of close of play on 20 October, 23 people have been transferred from France to the UK via the new safe, legal route. However, it is not appropriate to provide a continual update on each phase of the operation, not least as it involves sensitive information that could prove valuable to the organised immigration crime gangs that are behind small boats crossings.