Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reviewing the system for forecasting air pollution episodes.

As part of the Air Quality Information System review an evaluation of the Daily Air Quality Index (DAQI), including the provision of the forecast, was carried out. This evaluation found that the forecast was accurate and provided precise representation of real-world air quality conditions at a UK regional level. Some areas for improvement were identified and Defra are discussing with the Met Office how to take these forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) calls and (b) emails his Department received from the media on (i) 5 March 2025 prior to the publication of the report entitled Report: Air Quality Information System Review: Final Report and Recommendations and (ii) the previous seven days.

The Air Quality Information System (AQIS) review outputs were published on the 6 March 2025. This comprehensive expert-led review has recommended changes to how the risks of air pollution are communicated to the public and Government has already started work to make air quality part of everyday conversations. Defra did not receive any media queries about AQIS on 5 March or in the seven days leading up to that date. A notice was released on gov.uk: Better alerts to make air quality part of everyday conversation - GOV.UK.

Food and Rural Affairs, when he expects all areas of the UK to comply with the nitrogen dioxide annual mean limit.

Defra uses a combination of national-scale modelling and on the ground monitoring to assess nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in England each year. Evidence shows that NO2 concentrations have reduced substantially in recent years, however a reporting zone is still considered to be exceeding the NO2 limit value if a single location remains above the limit value. The cities, agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones exceeding the NO2 limit value in 2023, and the predictions of when they will become compliant with the limit value, are based on data from Defra’s national modelling and monitoring networks, and additional local monitoring data gathered by cities and towns in England and held by the Joint Air Quality Unit. 13 cities in England exceeded the annual mean limit value for NO2 in 2023. These were: BirminghamLondonReadingBradfordManchesterSheffieldBristolNewcastle-upon-TyneStoke-on-TrentCoventryNottingham LiverpoolPortsmouth 15 out of 31 reporting zones in England were non-compliant with the annual mean NO2 limit value in 2023. This included 2 of the 8 non-agglomeration zones (South East and Eastern) and 13 of the 23 agglomeration zones. The 13 non-compliant agglomeration zones were: Bristol Urban AreaNottingham Urban AreaTynesideCoventry/BedworthPortsmouth Urban AreaWest Midlands Urban AreaGreater London Urban AreaReading/Wokingham Urban AreaWest Yorkshire Urban AreaGreater Manchester Urban AreaSheffield Urban Area Liverpool Urban AreaThe Potteries Predicting when locations that are currently exceeding will comply with the limit value is inherently uncertain. We don’t hold up-to-date detailed modelled projections to predict the impact of all current policies on future NO2 concentrations, however current indicative estimates suggest the majority of locations will become compliant with the limit value within the next four years. By 2029, we estimate all zones will be compliant except Bristol Urban Area, Sheffield Urban Area, The Potteries, West Midlands Urban Area and Tyneside. These correspond to Bristol, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, all of which we estimate will become compliant by 2032, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We expect Newcastle-upon-Tyne will be the last city to become compliant due to a localised hotspot. There is considerable uncertainty in current estimates for when this location will become compliant, but we estimate this will be by 2045, at the latest. As the road traffic fleet continues to transition to zero emission vehicles this date is likely to come forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, which (a) cities, (b) zones and (c) agglomerations in England exceeded the nitrogen dioxide annual mean limit value in 2023.

Defra uses a combination of national-scale modelling and on the ground monitoring to assess nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in England each year. Evidence shows that NO2 concentrations have reduced substantially in recent years, however a reporting zone is still considered to be exceeding the NO2 limit value if a single location remains above the limit value. The cities, agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones exceeding the NO2 limit value in 2023, and the predictions of when they will become compliant with the limit value, are based on data from Defra’s national modelling and monitoring networks, and additional local monitoring data gathered by cities and towns in England and held by the Joint Air Quality Unit. 13 cities in England exceeded the annual mean limit value for NO2 in 2023. These were: BirminghamLondonReadingBradfordManchesterSheffieldBristolNewcastle-upon-TyneStoke-on-TrentCoventryNottingham LiverpoolPortsmouth 15 out of 31 reporting zones in England were non-compliant with the annual mean NO2 limit value in 2023. This included 2 of the 8 non-agglomeration zones (South East and Eastern) and 13 of the 23 agglomeration zones. The 13 non-compliant agglomeration zones were: Bristol Urban AreaNottingham Urban AreaTynesideCoventry/BedworthPortsmouth Urban AreaWest Midlands Urban AreaGreater London Urban AreaReading/Wokingham Urban AreaWest Yorkshire Urban AreaGreater Manchester Urban AreaSheffield Urban Area Liverpool Urban AreaThe Potteries Predicting when locations that are currently exceeding will comply with the limit value is inherently uncertain. We don’t hold up-to-date detailed modelled projections to predict the impact of all current policies on future NO2 concentrations, however current indicative estimates suggest the majority of locations will become compliant with the limit value within the next four years. By 2029, we estimate all zones will be compliant except Bristol Urban Area, Sheffield Urban Area, The Potteries, West Midlands Urban Area and Tyneside. These correspond to Bristol, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, all of which we estimate will become compliant by 2032, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We expect Newcastle-upon-Tyne will be the last city to become compliant due to a localised hotspot. There is considerable uncertainty in current estimates for when this location will become compliant, but we estimate this will be by 2045, at the latest. As the road traffic fleet continues to transition to zero emission vehicles this date is likely to come forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, when each (a) city, (b)(b) zone and (c) agglomeration in England which exceeded the nitrogen dioxide annual mean limit value in 2023 will comply with that limit.

Defra uses a combination of national-scale modelling and on the ground monitoring to assess nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations in England each year. Evidence shows that NO2 concentrations have reduced substantially in recent years, however a reporting zone is still considered to be exceeding the NO2 limit value if a single location remains above the limit value. The cities, agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones exceeding the NO2 limit value in 2023, and the predictions of when they will become compliant with the limit value, are based on data from Defra’s national modelling and monitoring networks, and additional local monitoring data gathered by cities and towns in England and held by the Joint Air Quality Unit. 13 cities in England exceeded the annual mean limit value for NO2 in 2023. These were: BirminghamLondonReadingBradfordManchesterSheffieldBristolNewcastle-upon-TyneStoke-on-TrentCoventryNottingham LiverpoolPortsmouth 15 out of 31 reporting zones in England were non-compliant with the annual mean NO2 limit value in 2023. This included 2 of the 8 non-agglomeration zones (South East and Eastern) and 13 of the 23 agglomeration zones. The 13 non-compliant agglomeration zones were: Bristol Urban AreaNottingham Urban AreaTynesideCoventry/BedworthPortsmouth Urban AreaWest Midlands Urban AreaGreater London Urban AreaReading/Wokingham Urban AreaWest Yorkshire Urban AreaGreater Manchester Urban AreaSheffield Urban Area Liverpool Urban AreaThe Potteries Predicting when locations that are currently exceeding will comply with the limit value is inherently uncertain. We don’t hold up-to-date detailed modelled projections to predict the impact of all current policies on future NO2 concentrations, however current indicative estimates suggest the majority of locations will become compliant with the limit value within the next four years. By 2029, we estimate all zones will be compliant except Bristol Urban Area, Sheffield Urban Area, The Potteries, West Midlands Urban Area and Tyneside. These correspond to Bristol, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and Birmingham, all of which we estimate will become compliant by 2032, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. We expect Newcastle-upon-Tyne will be the last city to become compliant due to a localised hotspot. There is considerable uncertainty in current estimates for when this location will become compliant, but we estimate this will be by 2045, at the latest. As the road traffic fleet continues to transition to zero emission vehicles this date is likely to come forward.

Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department decided to cap the Sustainable Farming Incentive at £1.05 billion for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years.

As of 11 March, £1.05 billion had been paid to farmers or committed for payment through existing agreements or submitted applications for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) The SFI is an important offer, but it is part of a wider package which is why Defra must manage the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's blog post entitled Update on the farming budget, published on 12 March 2025, whether the £2.4 billion budget for the 2025-26 financial year will be used for farming; whether the split between budget lines is subject to change; and whether any other factors might affect the size of the budget.

We remain committed to investing £5 billion of funding in the farming budget this year and next (£2.6 billion for 24/25 and the £2.4 billion for 25/26, as previously announced), are on track to deliver that having responded to a number of demands in year. We monitor forecasts against the current year budget on an ongoing basis and respond accordingly to maximise the amount that can be delivered. Furthermore, we have a full understanding of commitments into future years arising from multi-annual agreements. We monitor the uptake of our demand led schemes which have a budgetary impact on future years (such as SFI) on a regular basis, increasing the frequency of this as the level of commitment approaches the budget available in future years. The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend over the next two years (24/25 and 25/26). These are not ring-fenced figures and have the potential to change. Defra manages the farming budget flexibly to respond to demand, and achieve our intended outcomes for farm productivity, environment, climate and animal health and welfare

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants to the Countryside Stewardship fund there have been in each year since 2015.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been (a) allocated and (b) spent under the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund in each year since 2015.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the time taken between capital grants and investment on the cash flow of farmers.

The rules applied to capital grant schemes by Defra means that payments made on capital works are made only when the works are complete and paid for by the farmer. Farmers can make multiple claims for items of a high value over a period, so farmers do not have to find the money for all of the works at the same time. The Rural Payments Agency endeavour to pay all claims within 30 working days of receipt. Any pause in funding investment by the department does not affect the cash flow of the farmer.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will list the (a) application deadlines and (b) start dates for each funding scheme for (i) farmers, (ii) growers and (iii) land managers; and the hectarage covered in each scheme.

Defra operates a page on gov.uk, “Funding for farmers, growers and land managers”. This page advises about grants and other funding currently open or opening soon, and includes links to the relevant scheme or grant webpage. Information about application deadlines for each grant is found on those webpages. We will update on plans for any further schemes following the Spending Review. Defra also operates a page on gov.uk, Area of land in agri-environment schemes. The latest data available for that page dates to 2022, and shows that in that year the total area of land in entry-level agreements was 1.4 million hectares and the total area of land in higher-level or targeted agri-environment agreements in England was 2.3 million hectares.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of land managers eligible for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund 2024.

All farmers, foresters, and land managers in England, including tenants, were eligible to form or join a Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Group in order to submit an application during the application window. Facilitators, who applied for the funding, were required to be an individual or organisation from the farming, forestry or other land management sector or service provider, with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills. Members can be added to an existing group at any time throughout the lifetime of the agreement. The application window for the 2024 round closed on the 15 January 2024. 24 applications were received. Of these, 18 secured an agreement, with all agreements starting on 1 June 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the alignment of the timing of funding schemes for farmers with the farming calendar.

Defra will be opening the Environmental Land Management (ELM) Capital Grant scheme and the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier offer in the Summer on a rolling application window basis. This will enable farmers to apply throughout the year, while enabling Defra to continue to monitor the situation to make sure demand doesn’t exceed the available funding. For the ELM Capital Grant scheme, farmers will be able to apply for a grant in more than one category but only submit one application per farm business Single Business Identifier (SBI) can be submitted per year. Other grants remain open, including grants for Woodland management plans, the Higher Tier Capital Grant, Capital grants plans, the Protection and Infrastructure grant, and Woodland tree health grants. We expect to publish more information about the reformed Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer in summer 2025. This will include an indication of when we expect to re-open SFI for applications.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the amount of land eligible for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund 2024.

All farmers, foresters, and land managers in England, including tenants, were eligible to form or join a Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Group in order to submit an application during the application window. Facilitators, who applied for the funding, were required to be an individual or organisation from the farming, forestry or other land management sector or service provider, with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills. Members can be added to an existing group at any time throughout the lifetime of the agreement. The application window for the 2024 round closed on the 15 January 2024. 24 applications were received. Of these, 18 secured an agreement, with all agreements starting on 1 June 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund 2024 in (a) total and (b) each year.

YearNumber of applications receivedNumber of successful applicationsFunding allocated [millions]Funding spent (to date) [millions]20153619£12.8 in total, funded under the Rural Development Programme for England£0.220165030£0.62017 (national round)4037 2017 (Northwest England flooding round)1312£0.520185538£1.620194339£0.62020 £1.82021 £0.820224541£2.25£0.9120234542£3£0.5620242418£2.5£0.88Total £20.55£8.45

Food and Rural Affairs, how many applicants there were for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund 2024; and how many were successful.

All farmers, foresters, and land managers in England, including tenants, were eligible to form or join a Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Group in order to submit an application during the application window. Facilitators, who applied for the funding, were required to be an individual or organisation from the farming, forestry or other land management sector or service provider, with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills. Members can be added to an existing group at any time throughout the lifetime of the agreement. The application window for the 2024 round closed on the 15 January 2024. 24 applications were received. Of these, 18 secured an agreement, with all agreements starting on 1 June 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, how long on average successful applicants for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund 2024 have waited for agreements to be activated.

All farmers, foresters, and land managers in England, including tenants, were eligible to form or join a Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Group in order to submit an application during the application window. Facilitators, who applied for the funding, were required to be an individual or organisation from the farming, forestry or other land management sector or service provider, with environmental land management experience and suitable facilitation skills. Members can be added to an existing group at any time throughout the lifetime of the agreement. The application window for the 2024 round closed on the 15 January 2024. 24 applications were received. Of these, 18 secured an agreement, with all agreements starting on 1 June 2024.

Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund in each of the four application rounds since 2015.

Since 2015, there has been £20.55 million allocated to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund. The Rural Payment Agency does not readily hold data for each of the four application rounds since 2015 and establishing this would incur disproportionate costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) applicants and (b) successful applicants there were to the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund for each of the four application rounds since 2015.

Since 2015 there were 351 applications for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund and 276 were offered an agreement. The Rural Payment Agency does not readily hold data for each of the four application rounds since 2015 and establishing this would incur disproportionate costs.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to increase support for farmers who make environmental contributions in the Land Use Framework.

The Government has recently launched a 12-week consultation on land use in England, which will inform the publication of a Land Use Framework later in the year. The consultation includes questions about how the government can more effectively align incentives to support farmers in providing the food and environment outcomes that the nation needs.