Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Sobel this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–17 of 17 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department distinguishes between sustainably managed commercial forestry and deforestation-linked timber imports.
The Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption indicator, funded by Defra, estimates that UK consumption of wood products is linked to circa 8,000 hectares of deforestation in 2023, associated with circa 0.4m tonnes of CO2 emissions. The UK has a robust ...
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of sustainably sourced imported timber on the UK’s net zero and decarbonisation objectives.
We recognise the important role timber can play in supporting Net Zero, including through reducing embodied emissions in construction and storing carbon. The Government relaunched a more ambitious Timber in Construction Roadmap in February 2025 to increas...
Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made towards the Government’s commitment to reform the governance and statutory purposes of National Parks through legislation.
The Government has delivered in providing the National Park Authorities and the Broads Authority with a new general power of competence through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and remains committed to strengthening the governance...
Food and Rural Affairs, what interventions she plans to put in place to mitigate the public safety and economic risks posed by batter fires in waste centres.
The department is aware from ongoing discussions with industry that the reported costs of battery fires in waste centres are significant, and this is a major concern. Defra is currently considering options for reforms of the batteries regulations that would help to address this issue, and as part of this we will include our own assessment of the cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres. Defra will continue to work with industry on this matter.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the number of lithium-ion battery-related fire incidents recorded in 2023–24 on the environment.
Defra has not carried out a formal assessment of the potential impact on the environment of lithium-ion battery-related fires recorded between 2023 and 2024. Battery-related fire incidents are a significant concern, and we remain engaged with wider Government and with industry, including waste disposal operators, on this issue. We are currently considering options for reform of the batteries regulations in the UK as a means to address a range of issues, including fires, and we are in the process of engaging further with industry and other stakeholders on those options. In relation to battery energy storage systems sites, which can use large numbers of lithium-ion batteries, the Government has consulted on the principle of including these within environmental permitting regulations to manage the potential environmental and public health risks from fires at these facilities. The Government response to this consultation will be published at the earliest opportunity.
Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the annual cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres.
The department is aware from ongoing discussions with industry that the reported costs of battery fires in waste centres are significant, and this is a major concern. Defra is currently considering options for reforms of the batteries regulations that would help to address this issue, and as part of this we will include our own assessment of the cost to the economy of battery fires in waste centres. Defra will continue to work with industry on this matter.
Food and Rural Affairs, what comparative estimate her Department has made of the cost of (a) veterinary medicines and (b) equivalent human medicines.
Veterinary medicine is a private service, including the prescription and supply of veterinary medicines. The Government does not regulate the cost of medicines and pricing structures are not subject to legislative controls. The costs of veterinary medicines are controlled by market forces. The Government is not informed of the prices of individual products and has not estimated the comparative costs of veterinary medicines and human medicines.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered introducing a cap on veterinary prescription fees.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have been conducting a full market investigation into the supply of veterinary services for household pets in the UK since 23 May 2024. On 15 October 2025, the CMA released its Provisional Decision Report (PDR). The remedies raised in this report are subject to the CMAs final report which is due to be release in the Spring. One of the remedies being considered is a cap on the price of written veterinary prescriptions. Defra welcomes the CMA’s market investigation into the veterinary sector and looks forward to continuing to engage with the CMA throughout this process. Defra will consider any remedies from the CMAs final report.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the cross-Government nature strategy.
Defra will set out its timeline for publishing the Cross Government Nature Strategy (GCNS) in due course.
Food and Rural Affairs, when the next set of Greening Government Commitments will be published for the years 2025-2030.
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 30 April 2025 to PQ 45716.
Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 326 his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2023-24, HC 314, published on 18 December 2024, what recent progress has been made on (a) creating a natural asset register presented within an accessible geospatial mapping format and (b) other aspects of the cross-government nature strategy; when he plans to publish these maps; whether these maps will be available on the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside website; and how the cross-government nature strategy relates to the forthcoming land use framework.
Defra is making progress on creating a natural asset register presented within an accessible geospatial mapping format and developing a cross-Government nature strategy. A geospatial natural capital register of the Defra group estate has now been developed. Defra is leading on expanding the geospatial natural capital register for the government estate. Defra is considering the publication of the geospatial natural asset register on the Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) website. No date for publication has been set. Defra is leading the development of a cross-Government nature strategy. The strategy will apply the principles of the land use framework.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether a Minister from his Department will attend the fifth round of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty in Busan, Korea.
The fifth round of negotiations on the global plastic pollution treaty (INC-5), beginning on 25 November 2024 does not include a formal Ministerial segment. The UK will continue to be appropriately represented, and we will keep the need for Defra minister...
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3775 on Plastics: Treaties, which Ministers from his Department will attend the fifth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for
The host country and Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have confirmed there will not be a dedicated Ministerial segment at the fifth session of the Inter...
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3775 on Plastics: Treaties, whether he plans to personally attend the fifth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for the Global
The host country and Secretariat for the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution have confirmed there will not be a dedicated Ministerial segment at the fifth session of the Inter...
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2024 to Question 3774 on Plastics: EU Law, whether he plans to sign the Bridge to Busan declaration.
On the 24 September in New York, the Foreign Secretary announced the UK had endorsed the Bridge to Busan declaration to support greater ambition on addressing unsustainable levels of primary plastic production in the negotiations for a new treaty to end p...
Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to send a representative from his Department to the fourth intergovernmental negotiation meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty in November 2024.
Yes, officials will attend the fifth session, due to be held in November in Busan, South Korea.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Bridge to Busan declaration.
The Bridge to Busan is a political declaration to raise ambition on addressing primary plastic polymers. It aims to achieve the goal of ending plastic pollution in the context of the plastic pollution treaty, currently being negotiated by the Intergovernm...