Written questions by Farron.

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year he estimates that the (a) West Yorkshire urban area; (b) Coventry and Bedworth, (c) Liverpool urban area, (d) Great London urban area, (e) Greater Manchester urban area, (f) Nottingham urban area, (g) Portsmouth urban area and (h) Reading and Wokingham urban area will become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39816 on Nitrogen Dioxide: Pollution Control, in which year the South East non-agglomeration zone is expected to become compliant.

Predicting when locations will comply with the annual mean limit value for nitrogen dioxide is inherently uncertain. Our current estimates reflect the impact of agreed local Clean Air Plans and are based on 2023 data from Defra’s national monitoring networks and national modelling, as well as local authority-owned air quality monitoring and modelling. 2023 is the most recent year of fully ratified monitoring data available. As additional years of data become available or where additional measures are agreed some of these predictions are likely to change. Current estimates for when the following reporting zones will become compliant are: West Midlands Urban Area2032Bristol Urban Area2031Sheffield Urban Area2031The Potteries2032South East2028West Yorkshire Urban Area2029Coventry and Bedworth2026Liverpool Urban Area2029Greater London Urban Area2024Greater Manchester Urban Area2026Nottingham Urban Area2024Portsmouth Urban Area2026Reading and Wokingham Urban Area2024

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of The Environmental Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) (England) Regulations 2023 in achieving reductions in concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in ambient air.

The revised Environmental Improvement Plan is due to include further details on fine particulate matter targets set under the Environment Act 2021.

Food and Rural Affairs, what the budget is for the Farming and Countryside Programme for 2025-26 by category in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024, published on 10 September 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12th March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. 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. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he plans to take to support brewers meet the costs of the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging scheme.

The government has worked closely with industry, including the brewing and hospitality sectors, throughout development of Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR). This is a major reform that will be iterated over several years to incentivise packaging producers to reduce their material footprint and use more sustainable packaging. Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the brewing and hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. Despite considering multiple approaches, a consensus on a single approach that works for all sectors and within the bounds of legal and regulatory requirements, was not reached. We are continuing to engage with sectors on a way forward and on assessing the tonnages of packaging any amendment might affect in the hospitality sector and in other sectors. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide the 2024-25 spend figures to date for the Farming and Countryside Programme to match the categories set out in Annex 1 of the Farming and Countryside Programme annual report 2023 to 2024.

The farming blog published on Wednesday 12 March set out Defra’s spend for 24/25 and 25/26 split across the Farming and Countryside Programme schemes. 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. In line with its obligations under the Agriculture Act 2020, Defra regularly publishes an annual report, setting out commitments in the previous financial year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful applicants there were to the Fruit and Vegetables Aid Scheme in (i) 2023 and (ii) each year since its creation.

The Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme (FVAS) runs from 01 January – 31 December. In relation to the 2023 scheme year, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) received 32 successful applications by recognised Producer Organisations (POs). There were no unsuccessful applications during the same period. The scheme was first introduced in 1996 and the number of UK-recognised Producer Organisations (POs) has varied overtime, but now there are 32 F&V POs across the UK. Each recognized PO will submit an application for an operational programme (OP) or amendment to that OP each year.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding his Department has allocated to the Fruit and Vegetable Aid Scheme in each year since its inception; and how much and what proportion of that funding was spent.

Prior to 2021 the scheme was EU funded. The Secretary of State did not allocate any direct funding to The Fruit & Vegetable Aid Scheme started in 2021 governed by EU rules before this time. Since then, £117,794,154.23 has been spent The breakdown of actual UK funding spent on the scheme post EU exit is as follows: 2021 - £39,056,567.83 (£35,999,480.17 England only)2022 - £40,110,883.98 (£34,460,975.86 England only)2023 - £38,626,702.42 (£35,393,728.71 England only)2024 - claims still being assessed.

Food and Rural Affairs, what financial support he is providing to low carbon farming.

Our Environmental Land Management schemes (ELMs), funded by a farming budget of £5 billion over two years, are paying farmers to take up land management practices that contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Government has also spent £51.8 million through the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP), with a further £98 million committed to ongoing projects in support of Agri-technology research and innovation. FIP competitions for 2025/26 will include up to £12.5 million for the Net Zero Farming thematic competition. Since 2021, Defra’s Farming Investment Fund awarded more than 11,000 grants worth over £130 million to farmers, growers and foresters to invest in technology, equipment and infrastructure, much of which supports low carbon farming practices. Of this, £107 million was through the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF). The next window of FETF will launch in Spring 2025.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the emissions reductions required in (a) agriculture, (b) land use and (c) waste to deliver the sixth carbon budget.

The extent of emissions reductions required by Defra sectors in order to deliver the Government’s overall Carbon Budgets is determined by a cross-Government decision making process led by DESNZ. Underpinning this is the UKTM (UK Times Model). This takes assumptions on the ‘baseline’ trajectory for emissions informed by the annual Emissions and Energy Projections and seeks to determine what interventions can achieve the lowest cost pathway to achieving Net Zero, accounting for the Government’s energy and growth plans. The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan provides the specific estimates on the extent of emissions reductions required in Defra sectors.

Food and Rural Affairs, (a) where and (b) how standards apply in statutory regulations to control concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

The key legislation that details how and where air pollutant concentration standards apply in England are the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and the Environment Act Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) Targets (England) 2023. Requirements for local air quality management are set out in the Environment Act 1995 requiring local authorities to review and assess air quality concentrations in their areas.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether there have been any formal complaints to the Office for Environmental Protection on exceedances of the nitrogen dioxide annual limit value in the UK.

As an independent public body set up to hold public authorities to account, the OEP does not routinely share information regarding specific complaints with Defra unless those complaints relate directly to Defra and are considered eligible by the OEP. To date, the OEP has notified us of one complaint in relation to this topic. The OEP publishes a quarterly complaints report on their website providing an overview of the complaints received and ongoing enforcement activity. They also publish information relating to individual casework where investigations have been launched and resolutions achieved.

Food and Rural Affairs, what standards exist in statutory regulations for controlling concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

The key legislation that details how and where air pollutant concentration standards apply in England are the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 and the Environment Act Targets (Fine Particulate Matter) Targets (England) 2023. Requirements for local air quality management are set out in the Environment Act 1995 requiring local authorities to review and assess air quality concentrations in their areas.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of (a) limit values, (b) objectives and (c) targets to control concentrations of pollutants in ambient air in England.

Limit values, national objectives and long-term targets complement each other and are all recognised as necessary in delivering cleaner air.

Food and Rural Affairs, which five pollutants in ambient air in England have seen the largest reduction in concentrations since Directive 2008/50/EC was introduced.

Trends on air pollutant concentrations can be found in Defra’s annual compliance reporting here.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether concentrations of nitrogen dioxide are allowed to exceed the annual mean limit value once achieved throughout a zone or agglomeration.

Under the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010), there is a requirement to meet annual mean limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) of 40μg/m3. This is an ongoing requirement and does not expire once the limit value has been met in a single reporting year.

Food and Rural Affairs, where the limit values set in the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2016 to control concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air apply.

The limit values set in the Air Quality Standards Regulations (2010) to control concentrations of particulate matter (PM10) in ambient air apply across the UK. Compliance with the limit values is assessed through a combination of monitored and modelled data, with non-compliance being determined if any one location breaches the limit value.

Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to reduce concentrations for pollutants in ambient air once the relevant limit value has been achieved.

Under the Air Quality Standards Regulations 2010 where levels of pollutants are below the set limit values, they must continue to be maintained. We have also set a Population Exposure Reduction Target for PM2.5, which will continue to reduce peoples’ average exposure across the country. The Government is committed to working with local authorities and stakeholders to continue reducing air pollution and its harmful effects.

Food and Rural Affairs, whether weather warnings were issued ahead of the high air pollution episode expected in the South East on 10 March 2025.

Pollution notifications were issued on Defra’s UK-Air website, via the Defra UK-Air X feed and through email alerts that individuals and organisations can subscribe to. The daily air quality forecast provided by the Met office also provided information on the expected air pollution levels for that day.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Mayor of London’s report entitled London-wide Ultra Low Emission Zone One Year Report, published on 7 March 2025.

Poor air quality continues to be the biggest environmental risk to human health. Whilst responsibility for air quality and transport is devolved in London, we welcome the progress made there to address air pollution and improve people’s health. Local and devolved authorities are best placed to determine the most effective route to improving air quality in their cities. We are committed to working with them to improve the air we breathe.