Written questions by Robertson.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 13 April 2026 to WPQ 123377, when she will place a copy of NO2 Programme expenditure in the House of Commons Library.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026 to Question 127547, whether checks undertaken to ensure the BNG metric digitisation project is following due process examined whether Equal Experts accessed proprietary software products developed by private sector BNG technology companies during the Discovery phase without those companies' knowledge or consent; who conducted those checks; and what written record of their findings exists.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether EU Regulation 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries will come into force in Northern Ireland before equivalent requirements are introduced in Great Britain; and what assessment her Department has made of the potential implications of businesses operating across the UK internal market.

No UK Internal Market assessment has been made. Article 5(4), in conjunction with Article 13(3) of the Windsor Framework, provides that the EU law listed in Annex 2 to the Windsor Framework, including that law as amended or replaced, will apply to and in the UK in respect of Northern Ireland. Consequently, the EU Batteries Regulation has applied in Northern Ireland from 18 February 2024. Working alongside the Devolved Governments, we are reviewing the UK's producer responsibility legislation for batteries. As part of this review, we are considering aligning with the requirements of the EU Batteries Regulation in Great Britain. My officials held a series of workshops with industry earlier this year to explore this further.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she will place in the Library a breakdown of NO2 Programme expenditure by project, including spend to date and forecast costs for each scheme.

A breakdown of the NO2 programme expenditure on local authority grants will be placed in the House of Commons library.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 119491, whether the Department holds a project-level financial breakdown of NO2 Programme expenditure as part of its reporting to the Government Major Projects Portfolio.

Appropriate programme level reporting of spend and forecasts are provided regularly to the Government Major Projects Portfolio in line with agreed reporting requirements.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate her Department has made of the total capital and operational cost of transitioning its vehicle fleet to 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions by 31 December 2027; and what assessment has been made of the difference in cost compared with retaining and maintaining a petrol and diesel fleet over the same timeframe.

The estimated cost to transition 309 vans from diesel to electric to achieve 100% Zero Tailpipe Emissions (under 3.5 tonnes) by 31 December 2027 is £10.1 million compared with a diesel equivalent of £12.2 million. These costs are based on “whole life costs” of five years and include electric maintenance costs forecast at 60% less than comparable diesel. Defra also operates a fleet of 4x4s (1,132 vehicles). The department applied to the Department for Transport for an exemption from the requirements of the Government Fleet Commitment, with the productive engagement with Office for Zero Emission Vehicles. This was granted on 28 May 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what support his Department has provided to small and medium-sized food producers to help manage the costs of the extended producer responsibility scheme.

The Government has provided a comprehensive package of support to small and medium-sized food producers to manage costs under the extended producer responsibility for packaging scheme (pEPR). A de-minimis threshold exempts producers with turnover below £2 million and placing less than 50 tonnes of packaging on the market from cost obligations, thereby shielding around 70 per cent of small producers from pEPR fees. Practical support is delivered via a monthly Business Readiness Forum, sector-specific events and a regular newsletter, while collaboration with the Environment Agency also provides guidance and support. The Department continues to encourage small producers to reduce packaging use and adopt reusable systems to further lower pEPR-related costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is monitoring the potential impact of extended producer responsibility scheme costs on food and drink prices in the (a) on-trade and (b) off-trade market.

In October 2024, the Government published an updated assessment of the impact of introducing the packaging extended producer responsibility scheme (pEPR). The impact assessment sets out the estimated inflationary impact of pEPR on the UK economy as a whole. The central estimate for the increase in the Consumer Price Index is 0.29%. This is based on an assumption that producers pass on 85% of the costs incurred through pEPR. The pEPR impact assessment does not split out impacts on individual sectors.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Information Commission's Office case reference IC-385446-V5T5, if he will place in the Library a copy of the responses to the consultation on the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.

I will deposit the relevant document in the Commons library.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects the Environment Agency’s report into the flooding in Ryde in October 2023 to be (a) completed and (b) published.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency (EA) supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The EA may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The EA is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department monitors the time taken by the Environment Agency to (a) produce and (b) publish post-flood incident reports.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency (EA) supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The EA may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The EA is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Environment Agency has a target timeframe for publishing flood investigation reports following significant flooding events.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The Environment Agency may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The Environment Agency is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the time taken for flooding investigations to be completed.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The Environment Agency may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The Environment Agency is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Environment Agency on the (a) transparency of flood investigation reporting and (b) timeliness of the publication of its flood investigation reports.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The Environment Agency may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The Environment Agency is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Environment Agency has made on its investigation into the flooding in Ryde in October 2023.

On becoming aware of a flood in its area, a lead local flood authority (LLFA) must investigate to the extent it considers it necessary or appropriate. This duty comes under section 19 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. When a LLFA undertakes an investigation, it must publish the results. The Environment Agency supported Defra to produce their new national guidance for LLFAs on investigating a flood, published in April 2025. This includes guidance on:· typical criteria for deciding whether to instigate an investigation· engaging with communities and partner organisations· understanding the event· developing suitable recommendations· timescales for publication The Environment Agency may be asked to contribute evidence and information to support the investigation, but they are not responsible for instigating it or for its completion. The Environment Agency is also investigating a flooding event at Ryde that occurred in October 2023, but this is not a Section 19 investigation. This report was sent to stakeholders, including the hon. member for Isle of Wight East, on Tuesday 08 July 2025. A summary of significant flood events is published in the Environment Agency’s Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44040 on Packaging: Recycling and with reference to his Department's guidance entitled Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England, updated on 21 May 2025, if he will clarify the circumstances in which the Environment Agency will issue fines for contaminated recyclable waste; and whether the level of a fine to a business will be affected by previous fines issued.

All compliance and enforcement activities are conducted in line with the Regulator’s Code and the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanction Policy to ensure a proportionate, risk-based approach. When contamination of workplace recyclables is suspected, the Environment Agency’s initial intervention is usually is to provide advice and guidance, as set out in Simpler recycling: workplace recycling in England guidance updated on 21 May 2025. The Environment Agency does not possess powers to issue on the spot fines or fixed penalty notices and financial sanctions arise only via prosecution. Formal action, such as serving a compliance notice, however, is only likely to occur if advice and guidance is ignored. The level of any fine will not be adjusted on the basis of previous fines issued, as sentencing follows standard judicial criteria including the seriousness of the offence and culpability of the offender. The Government remains committed to supporting businesses in meeting their recycling obligations whilst safeguarding the quality of recyclable materials.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on the requirement for schools to serve (a) meat and (b) dairy products to children.

The Secretary of State has had no discussions with stakeholders on the requirements for schools to serve meat and dairy products to children, which is a matter for the Department for Education together with the Department of Health and Social Care. To ensure quality and nutrition in meals for the future, the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care are acting quickly with experts across the sector to revise the school food standards, so every school is supported with the latest nutrition guidance.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much has been spent on the Hello Lamp Post community engagement project (a) since January 2024, (b) by financial year and (c) by delivery phase.

The Government recognises the value of engaging with citizens to collect and share the latest scientific data about the environment. The Environment Agency (EA) has joined forces with Hello Lamp Post to enable residents and visitors of communities across England to interact with them about key environmental issues and risks.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will set out the procurement mechanism used by the Environment Agency to award the contract for the Environment Agency Community Engagement Platform (National) 2024 to Hello Lamp Post Limited; and if he will publish the procurement agreement.

The contract is available on contracts finder via Environment Agency Community Engagement Platform (National) 2024 - Contracts Finder.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 53757 on Beverage Containers: Recycling, whether UK-based beverage manufacturers can accept used recyclable containers of (a) their own products and (b) other manufacturers' products to offset their Extended Producer Responsibility levy.

The packaging EPR Regulations allow, in some circumstances, packaging collected by producers from consumers, and subsequently recycled, to be offset against their disposal fee obligations. These are currently limited to hard to recycle packaging (e.g. plastic film take back) which is not collected in local authority household waste kerbside collection.