Written questions by McMurdock.

Food and Rural Affairs, how communities will be consulted on the design and delivery of conservation measures funded through the Nature Restoration Fund.

We are committed to working with stakeholders both throughout the development of Environmental Delivery Plans, including working closely with local planners, reviewing relevant local plans and strategies, and engaging local communities. All Environmental Delivery Plans will be subject to a minimum 28 working-day public consultation, giving stakeholders and the local community an opportunity to comment. This ensures Environmental Delivery Plans are informed by local context and priorities whilst maintaining consistency with national standards.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of small and medium-seized developers assisting with the delivery of Environmental Delivery Plans.

Private and third sector providers, including small businesses and landowners, will play an essential role in delivering conservation measures under Environmental Delivery Plans through fair and open tendering processes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of large‑scale habitat restoration funded through the Nature Restoration Fund on the economy.

Large-scale habitat restoration has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits alongside environmental gains. Evidence from similar programmes suggests the following could be realised: Job creation: Habitat restoration projects generate skilled employment in land management, and ecological services. Natural capital uplift: Improved ecosystems enhance flood resilience, water quality, and carbon sequestration, reducing long-term public costs. Local and National growth: Investment will attract jobs, supporting local businesses and supply chains. Further detail can be found within the published Impact Assessment.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support will be provided to local authorities to engage with the development and implementation of Environmental Delivery Plans.

Defra and Natural England will provide comprehensive guidance on the Nature Restoration Fund for Local Planning Authorities. Natural England will also continue to work closely with Local Authorities throughout the development and implementation of Environmental Delivery Plans.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the first tranche of Environmental Delivery Plans on nutrient pollution in rivers, lakes and estuaries.

The first tranche of Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) will cover nutrient pollution, delivering on this government's commitment to unblock homes affected by nutrient neutrality. While still under development, conservation measures within these EDPs will be designed to improve conditions at protected freshwater habitats and estuaries affected by excess nutrients. Under the requirements of the Overall Improvement Test, the nutrient pollution reductions or removals secured within each EDP must be greater than the additional pollution arising from development in scope of each EDP.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the stakeholders her Department consulted in developing the Animal Welfare Strategy.

The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out our priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements the department aim to achieve by 2030. The Animal Welfare Strategy has been developed in conjunction with key stakeholders including representatives of the companion, wild companion, wild animal and farming sectors along with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and those involved in enforcement. The department has held roundtable discussions on priorities whilst working to understand the underlying issues that lead to poor welfare. The department also received input from a wide range of other interested parties. Defra will continue to engage with stakeholders as we deliver on the strategy.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of livestock worrying on the finances of farming communities.

The Government has taken steps to address the financial impact of livestock worrying on farming communities through the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025. The 2025 Act amends the 1953 Act, introducing new measures to tackle the serious issue of livestock worrying, modernising the definitions and scope, strengthening police powers to collect evidence and prosecute offenders, and increasing the maximum penalty from a fine of £1,000 to an “unlimited” fine to act as a deterrent.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to end puppy farming.

The Government is committed to ending puppy farming and the low welfare breeding of dogs. As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government has committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform.

Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to launch the consultation on banning the use of electric shock collars.

The Government is concerned about the possible welfare implications of the use of electric shock collars.As set out in the Animal Welfare Strategy, we will consult on whether to ban the use of electric shock collars later in this Parliament.

Food and Rural Affairs, which public body will oversee mandatory licensing for domestic rescue and rehoming organisations.

Defra will launch a consultation on licensing domestic rescue and rehoming organisations, including on how such a scheme should be administered, in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, what role local councils will play in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

Local councils have long played a vital role in animal welfare, across a wide range of functions. This includes their established responsibilities for animal activity licensing, Zoo Licencing, the management of stray dogs, and supporting compliance with health and welfare standards in farming. The Animal Welfare Strategy acknowledges and reaffirms this vital role, committing to continued close working with local councils, in developing, implementing and enforcing animal welfare policies.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether additional resources will be provided to police forces to enforce tougher penalties for livestock worrying.

The Department will continue to engage with the police to ensure that they are fully prepared to enforce the new powers introduced by the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025. The measures will come into effect on 18 March 2026. We will also work closely with the police to monitor how enforcement operates in practice after the measures have come into force.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to publish an annual progress report on the implementation of the Animal Welfare Strategy.

The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out our priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements we aim to achieve by 2030 The Government will monitor progress against the strategy to ensure the outcomes we are seeking to achieve are met; however, we currently do not have any plans to publish an annual progress report. We will continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders, charities, experts, enforcement bodies, and industry from across the different sectors to deliver on the commitments in the strategy and improve the lives of millions of animals. Information and insights from stakeholders will be critical to assess whether policies are delivering on their intended outcomes.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to require the humane slaughter of all terrestrial animals.

The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter. There are already detailed protections in legislation to ensure that farmed animals are spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering when being slaughtered. As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, and following the Animal Welfare Committee’s report on the topic, we will consult on banning the use of carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs. We continue to keep animal welfare at the time of killing policy under review and will take into account any new scientific research and evidence which emerges.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that regulations keep pace with emerging evidence on animal welfare.

Science advice is fundamental to good government. The Department benefits from academic expertise in animal welfare through several routes. Alongside its own scientific officers, the Department commissions research and evidence in the field of animal welfare to support policy development. It also receives independent, authoritative, impartial and timely advice through its expert committees, notably the Animal Welfare Committee.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers transitioning away from pig farrowing crates.

Ending the use of farrowing crates is a key priority for this government, as set out in the recently published Animal Welfare Strategy. The Department is therefore committed to working closely with the industry to explore how to transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems: either flexible farrowing where the sow is confined for the crucial few days around farrowing, or free farrowing where there is no confinement during farrowing or lactation and consult on the transition.

Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department will introduce humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish.

Since publication of the Animal Welfare Committee’s updated Opinion on the welfare of farmed fish at the time of killing a GB-wide joint government-industry working group on farmed trout has been examining the issues raised in the report. This co-design work has made good progress on exploring potential options for more detailed welfare at killing requirements. As set out in the Government’s animal welfare strategy, we will consult on introducing humane slaughter requirements for farmed fish into legislation in due course.

Food and Rural Affairs, if she will list the legislative loopholes relating to animal welfare that will be addressed in the Animal Welfare Strategy.

The Animal Welfare Strategy was published on 22 December and sets out our priorities for animal welfare, focusing on the changes and improvements we aim to achieve by 2030. The strategy identifies the need to address loopholes in current legislation allowing animals to be bred in and sourced from low welfare settings – such as puppy farms, unscrupulous traders, and unsuitable rescue and rehoming centres. We will continue to work in partnership with stakeholders to understand if new or emerging issues are identified.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reformed dog‑breeding practices on long‑term health problems.

As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government has committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform to improve the health and welfare of breeding dogs and their puppies. This will include proposals to improve the health and welfare standards which all licensed breeders must meet. Defra will continue to engage with stakeholders as this develops.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to require food labels to state the method of slaughter used for meat products, including pre-stunning.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Flyde, Mr Andrew Snowden, on 17 December 2025 to PQ UIN 99375.