Written questions by Goldsborough.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce a National Bluetongue Strategy.

Disease control is a devolved matter. Defra works closely with the Devolved Governments to provide, where possible, a consistent and coordinated response across the UK. The disease control measures we deploy for incidents of bluetongue in Great Britain are set out in the ‘GB Bluetongue Virus Disease Control Strategy’. Defra’s bluetongue disease control measures aim to limit the spread of BTV infection through proportionate and evidence-based control measures, whilst balancing the burdens of controls against the benefits of slowing the spread of bluetongue and minimising the cost of any outbreak both to Government and farmers. Our control framework, which was developed with a wide range of sector representatives, recognises that BTV control via movement restrictions was not a long-term solution, noting keepers and businesses can be affected not only by the impacts of disease on animals, but by disease control measures as well.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle the sale of foreign meat labelled as being of British origin.

The fundamental principles of our food labelling rules are that information provided to the consumer must not mislead and must enable consumers to make informed decisions. Food from elsewhere in the world that is simply re-packaged in the UK, without any further processing, does not confer UK origin on it and therefore any suggestion that the food is from the UK would be misleading. If processed foods, such as bacon or sausages, and composite foods, such as pies and ready meals, list that they are made in the UK but their primary ingredient is from another country then the label must highlight this: for example, a British Steak & Ale pie made, assembled and baked in the UK with beef from Ireland must state ‘Made in the UK using Irish beef’.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to increase the uptake of bluetongue vaccinations.

In response to emerging disease, Defra’s Secretary of State permitted the use of 3 bluetongue serotype 3 (BTV-3) vaccines within the United Kingdom in September 2024, subject to licence. By working closely with manufacturers, Defra has ensured that safe and effective vaccine is available for use in the UK and helped overcome supply challenges.Animal keepers are strongly encouraged to discuss vaccination with their vet to determine if it is right for their animals. Defra works closely with stakeholders to explore options and to develop recommendations for livestock vaccination as a preventative measure against BTV-3 in the UK. Defra also supports nationwide information and awareness campaigns such as the industry-led Battle Bluetongue campaign launched in 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the cost of bluetongue vaccinations for farmers.

Vaccine pricing is a commercial decision, which is the responsibility of manufacturers, wholesalers and veterinarians. Defra has worked closely with manufacturers to ensure that safe and effective vaccine is available for use in the UK, and to overcome supply challenges.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to tackle illegal meat imports through passenger routes.

Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to estimate the amount of illegal meat that enters Great Britain.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency has a project aiming to improve estimates of illegal meat imports. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help increase rates of prosecution for smuggling meat into Great Britain.

Enforcement authorities are responsible for deciding whether to prosecute. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to establish a permanent personal import policy for goods entering Great Britain from the EU.

Defra keeps the rules for personal imports of meat and dairy products from the EU under review. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has considered compelling airports to display information communicating (a) the emergency ban on personal imports and (b) biosecurity threats from illegal imports.

International passenger transport operators, including airport operators, have certain responsibilities for drawing their customers’ attention to rules for personal imports. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to establish a taskforce for illegal imports of products of animal origin.

Defra is considering this recommendation in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to produce a digital tool for travellers to identify what they can bring into Great Britain.

Defra is considering this recommendation in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to concentrate the responsibility for tackling illegal meat imports into fewer bodies.

Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision. Defra is considering the recommendations in the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on meat smuggling.

How many Child Maintenance Service cases were reviewed by the Independent Case Examiner in each of the last ten years.

There are several ways in which complaints escalated to the Independent Case Examiner (ICE) can be concluded – resolution, settlement or investigation. This table shows the total volumes of Child Maintenance Service (CMS) cases ICE concluded in each of the last ten operational years, and comprises of cases concluded by resolution, settlement and investigation. CMS2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202020/212021/222022/232023/242024/25Total3353703133282783555928071253941

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on (a) biosecurity arrangements and (b) the illegal importation of food products.

The biosecurity arrangements and regulatory frameworks for imports are no longer the same as when we were in the EU. Since leaving the EU, we have put in place sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules for importing food products from the EU into Great Britain and amended SPS rules for importing food products from the rest of the world in line with the Border Target Operating Model. The Government Major Projects Portfolio has approved a monitoring and evaluation plan for the Borders, Boundaries and Trade Programme which will explore questions relating to the performance and effectiveness of the Border target Operating Model.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment with the Home Secretary of the potential merits of giving port health authorities stop, search and seize powers.

The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 already give port health authorities in England, search and seize powers in relation to animal products.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of transferring Products of Animal Origin enforcement (a) powers and (b) funding to port health authorities.

The Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 designate port health authorities in England, as enforcement authorities for animal products. Defra has committed £3.1 million for Dover Port Health Authority to work in partnership with Border Force in seizing meat smuggled via the Port of Dover in 2025/26, additional to over £9 million of funding provided to date.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) increasing levels of funding and (b) widening the responsibilities for the Border Force to include animal products originating from the rest of world.

Border Force is funded by Home Office. Defra has committed £3.1 million for Dover Port Health Authority to work in partnership with Border Force in seizing meat smuggled via the Port of Dover in 2025/26, additional to over £9 million of funding provided to date. Border Force is responsible for enforcing the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 in England in relation to animal products in any place, other than Border Control Posts, where goods are subject to customs supervision.

How many new applications have been made to the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last ten years.

The Department publishes quarterly statistics for the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and the latest statistics are currently available to June 2025. Table 1 of the latest National tables includes the information on the total applications received by CMS for each of the last five quarters, from quarter ending June 2024 to quarter ending June 2025. Statistics from August 2016 to March 2024 are available in ‘Table 1’ in the ‘National tables’ of previous releases and the resulting annual data, from August 2016 to June 2025, has been provided in the table below. Annual Applications to the Child Maintenance Service, Great Britain, August 2016 to June 2025

Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff have been employed by the Dover Port Health Authority in each of the last 20 years.

Defra does not hold this information. Dover District Council is designated as port health authority for the Port of Dover.

What the average length of time was that staff had been employed in the Child Maintenance Service in each of the last 10 years.

The information requested for the average length of time in service is not held at Child Maintenance Service level. It is only available at Department for Work and Pension level.