Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew George this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 21–35 of 35 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of imported pork produced using farrowing crates on the competitiveness of UK farmers that do not use farrowing crates.
The Government supports both a competitive farming sector and the need to maintain high animal welfare standards in the UK. No such assessment has been undertaken. No data is held on the production method of imported pork.
Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions her Department has had with the UK’s trading partners on certification and surveillance requirements to enable the use of avian influenza vaccination in poultry while maintaining export access.
The joint industry and cross-government highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Vaccine Taskforce has published a report proposing a number of next steps to close critical knowledge gaps before publishing a final recommendation. These actions include exploring a targeted turkey vaccination trial, proactive engagement with trading partners, and working to build surveillance and laboratory capacity. Defra and the Devolved Governments, working with industry, will give careful consideration to these in determining next steps.
Food and Rural Affairs, on how many occasions the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator has undertaken enforcement action when a purchaser has not provided a compliant written milk contract.
Under the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, purchasers must explain variable price changes within 7 days of a price review. The Regulations now apply to all milk purchase contracts. Breaches can be reported to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). Whilst it is not appropriate to provide the details of any live investigations, to date, ASCA has received 1 formal complaint about a non-compliant milk contract (currently under investigation). ASCA has also received a number of informal ‘in confidence’ concerns raised by producers across a range of issues. Where able to do so without revealing the identity of a producer, ASCA will raise these concerns directly with a milk purchaser.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator has (a) received information on purchasers not explaining variable price changes within seven days of a price review and (b) taken steps to ensure producers receive (i) timely and (ii) transparent pricing information.
Under the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024, purchasers must explain variable price changes within 7 days of a price review. The Regulations now apply to all milk purchase contracts. Breaches can be reported to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA). Whilst it is not appropriate to provide the details of any live investigations, to date, ASCA has received 1 formal complaint about a non-compliant milk contract (currently under investigation). ASCA has also received a number of informal ‘in confidence’ concerns raised by producers across a range of issues. Where able to do so without revealing the identity of a producer, ASCA will raise these concerns directly with a milk purchaser.
Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator for supporting producers with (a) non-compliant and (b) missing written milk purchase contracts under the regulations.
The Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA) is responsible for enforcing regulations developed under the Agriculture Act 2020 'Fair Dealing' powers (section 29). Regulations introduced using these powers promote fair contractual dealing and contribute to a more equitable relationship between producers and purchasers. To date, the powers have been used to create the Fair Dealing Obligations (Milk) Regulations 2024 (FDOM24) and the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations 2025 (FDOP25). The ASCA can investigate relevant complaints around compliance with these regulations, including ensuring parties agree a written contract as mandated by the FDOMM24. The ASCA also aims to be a convener across supply chains, working with producers and purchasers to improve business relationships and behaviours around contracts.
Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of wild bird and mammal surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza on UK coastlines; and whether she plans to increase funding for carcass testing in 2025–26.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) avian influenza national reference laboratory carries out year-round surveillance for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dead wild birds and influenza of avian origin in wild mammals. Including surveillance in marine mammals in coordination with APHA’s Diseases of Wildlife Scheme (DoWS) and the UK Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme. The results of which can be viewed on APHA’s interactive map and data dashboard. The thresholds for collection for wild birds for HPAI surveillance and case definition for influenza of avian origin in mammals are regularly reviewed, together with the need for additional targeted surveillance at discrete locations or in specific populations, including coastal locations to align with the sensitivity of surveillance required.
Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of national and regional carcass disposal capacity available for use during an avian influenza outbreak in 2025–26.
The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has contracts in place to manage carcass transport and disposal during disease outbreaks such as avian influenza. The Agency works with contractors across Great Britain which currently have sufficient disposal capacity based on current planning assumptions.
Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the updated cross-government contingency plan for outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza; and whether that plan includes arrangements for (a) local authority resourcing and (b) mutual aid.
The UK contingency plan for exotic notifiable diseases of animals explains how UK Governments and departments work together in responding to exotic animal disease outbreaks. It is updated every year, with the next update due later this autumn. The plan also outlines the arrangements of support and resources made available for Local Authorities at times of disease outbreak. This support also includes the provision of Mutual Aid agreements. This could involve the facilitation and co–ordination of arrangements with Local Resilience Forums, with additional support provided where the local response has been or may be overwhelmed.
Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to improve communications with registered and unregistered bird keepers when avian influenza control zones are established.
Defra continues to support bird keepers to manage and prepare for avian influenza outbreaks. Defra uses several channels of communication with bird keepers. A dedicated avian influenza page on GOV.UK is regularly updated with the latest information. We also issue national, local and trade press releases to ensure the latest information is communicated through the media. All poultry or other captive bird keepers in England (with the exception of certain psittacines and passerines) are legally required to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) via the Kept Bird Register. This enables the Government to communicate directly and promptly with bird keepers about biosecurity measures to help protect their birds and reduce the risk of disease spread. Following confirmation of an avian influenza outbreak, all registered bird keepers within disease control zones receive text messages or email alerts about the measures in the zones. In addition, anyone can subscribe to APHA’s free animal disease alerts service to receive updates on risk levels, latest guidance and new cases across Great Britain, regardless of whether they keep birds.
Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department plans to use to determine whether to pilot targeted vaccination of poultry against highly pathogenic avian influenza.
The joint industry and cross-government highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) Vaccine Taskforce has published a report proposing a number of next steps to close critical knowledge gaps before publishing a final recommendation. These actions include exploring a targeted turkey vaccination trial, proactive engagement with trading partners, and working to build surveillance and laboratory capacity. Defra and the Devolved Governments, working with industry, will give careful consideration to these in determining next steps.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans for badger culling in England to end.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for South Leicestershire, Alberto Costa, on 28 March 2025, PQ 40170.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set targets in the updated Environmental Improvement Plan for the biodiversity recovery of (a) wetlands, (b) peat bogs (c) coastal strips, (d) grasslands, (e) woodlands and forests and (f) other significant habitats.
The Government concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23) and published a statement of the rapid review’s key findings on 30 January 2025. Later in 2025 we will publish a revised EIP, to protect and restore our natural environment with delivery information to help meet the ambitious Environment Act targets. It will be a clearer, prioritised plan for achieving environmental outcomes such as reducing waste across the economy, planting more trees, improving air quality and halting the decline in species. We have legally binding targets have been carefully designed to enable biodiversity recovery. These are: Halt the decline in species abundance by 2030, and then increase abundance by at least 10% to exceed 2022 levels by 2042.Restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat by 2042, - alongside our international commitment to protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.Increase tree canopy and woodland cover from 14.5% to 16.5% of total land area in England by 2050, andFor 70% of designated features in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to be in favourable condition by 2042 with the remainder in recovering condition.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to conclude the Environmental Improvement Plan rapid review.
The Government concluded a rapid review of the existing Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP23), publishing a statement of its key findings on 30 January 2025. The revised EIP will be published later this year.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that public bodies sponsored by his Department will be free to fulfil their duties based on evidence and scientific fact.
Several of Defra’s public bodies are Public Sector Research Establishments and form an integral part of the Defra group science system. They share, as part of their remit, a role in providing quality scientific evidence and expert advice to Government in their respective disciplines.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) raw sewage and (b) other polluting discharges into (i) rivers and (ii) coastal waters were recorded by (A) the Environment Agency, (B) public and citizen science organisations and (C) South West Water in the area served by South West Water in each of the last five years.
There were 3,466 incidents into a waterbody in the Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly (DCS) area over the last 5 years, of which 929 were related to untreated sewage: Reported Year(a) Cat 1-3 incidents with an impact on water(b) Crude Sewage Incidents in DCS20196151832020658220202159514720225581202023701173202433986Total3466929Of these incidents, the following number of substantiated incidents were attributed to South West Water (SWW): Reported Year(a) SWW Incidents in DCS(b) Crude Sewage SWW Incidents in DCS2019189147202023318620211601172022126752023222146202411171Total1041742 The EA’s area boundaries do not align exactly with water company catchments. This will mean that a small number of incidents will not be included in this analysis.The use of “other polluting discharges” the EA have taken to mean all other types of pollution incidents into water. Finally, the EA have included pollution incidents to all types of waterbodies including coastal waters and rivers. For Part B and C of this question, we do not hold that information, the respective organisations would be best placed to answer. I would also refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State on 18 July: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.