Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mike Reader this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 1–8 of 8 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Food and Rural Affairs, if her department will update the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services to require applicable government agencies to purchase higher welfare products, including cage-free eggs and pork, and chicken sourced from production systems that adhere to the Better Chicken Commitment.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department expects to implement the policy of requiring government catering contracts to favour high-quality, high-welfare products.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department will be strengthening the animal welfare provisions of the Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services.
Awaiting answer.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the cost of regulation introduced since 2019 on the food and drink supply chain, including in farming, manufacturing, retail and hospitality, on food and drink inflation.
Food and drink inflation is determined by a range of factors and it is not always possible to isolate the direct impact of regulation on food prices. However, Defra is taking action to reduce cost pressures in the food system, including from regulation. In November, Defra launched the Food Inflation Gateway to ensure regulatory impacts on food businesses are appropriately assessed, and to identify where burdens can be reduced or better sequenced. Food price inflation rose sharply in 2022 (following the start of the war in Ukraine) to a peak of 19.1% in March 2023. Subsequently the inflation rate has decreased but not reached pre-2022 levels. Food price inflation averaged 4.6% over 2025 and in March 2026 stood at 3.7%.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects the Circular Economy Strategy for England to be published.
This Government is committed to transitioning towards a circular economy. The government has convened a Circular Economy Taskforce of experts to help develop the first ever Circular Economy Strategy for England, which we plan to publish for consultation in the coming autumn.
Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of mandatory food waste reporting on the economy.
The potential impacts of mandatory food waste reporting were assessed as part of the consultation process in 2022. As with all policies, if the policy were to be taken forward, a further assessment of costs and benefits would be published as part of the legislative process. This Government has announced plans to publish a Circular Economy Strategy for England and is committed to transitioning to a circular economy – one that stimulates growth, reduces waste, and alleviates pressure on household bills. As this work is developed, evidence from across the economy will be considered as the interventions that may be needed are evaluated. This includes for the potential introduction of a mandatory food waste reporting requirement for large food businesses.
Food and Rural Affairs, when he plans to publish the timetable for scaling up physical checks under the Border Target Operating Model to the full regime.
Our checks are intelligence-led and based on biosecurity risk. To protect the integrity of this approach, we cannot share operational details, including the exact timelines for scaling up checks. Traders should continue to follow the published guidance which sets out Border Target Operating Model inspection rates. However, we continually review our enforcement approach, and are seeing generally good rates of compliance, and are continuing to push towards a fully enforced regime.
Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the efficiency of the operation of the Border Target Operating Model since it was introduced.
The first milestone - health certificates - happened on 31 January 2024. Physical and documentary checks began on April 30th. Medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as check levels are scaled up in a sensible and controlled way. The controls introduced under the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) protect the country from biosecurity threats. We continue to monitor and review the impact of controls introduced under the BTOM. We are seeing regular instances of biosecurity threats being intercepted or prevented from entering the country. Meanwhile we are working closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise disruption and costs to trade, and to ensure checks are completed efficiently. We are not seeing any routine queues or delays.