Written questions by Perkins.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much fishing effort calculated in kilowatt days has taken place in English waters between six and twelve nautical miles in each year 2015-2025.

Although UK and non-UK commercial fishing vessels are required to report catches in UK waters, they are not required to report whether those catches occurred in English waters or waters between six and twelve nautical miles. As such, this data is not collected. Catch statistics are regularly published by the MMO on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quota-use-statistics

Food and Rural Affairs, how many non-compliance warning letters were issued in each year 2020-2025 to i) EU registered fishing vessels, ii) English registered fishing vessels over ten meters in length, and iii) English registered fishing vessels under ten meters in length.

The Marine Management Organisation’s approach to control and enforcement is risk-based and intelligence-led and are enforced in accordance with their published Compliance and Enforcement Strategy: Compliance and Enforcement Strategy - GOV.UK. The MMO does not publish a breakdown of non-compliance warning letters issued to English or EU-registered vessels. The MMO annual report, published on gov.uk, provides an overview of the number of regulatory enforcement actions that have been taken: Marine Management Organisation Annual Report and Account

Food and Rural Affairs, how many fishing licenses has the Government issued to fly-seine fishing vessels registered in i) the EU and ii) England.

The Marine Management Organisation does not issue specific licences for fly-seining. The MMO issues a domestic fishing vessel licence which allows English registered vessels to fishing using various stipulated gear types. A list of registered and licensed vessels can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-vessel-lists. EU vessels are eligible to fish in UK waters under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement if they hold a UK Foreign Vessel licence. The EU notify the vessel details and proposed gear type. Currently, there are 56 EU vessels licensed to use fly-seines in UK waters. A list of EU vessels approved to fish in UK waters can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/united-kingdom-single-issuing-authority-uksia#approved-eu-vessels.

Food and Rural Affairs, what was the first hand sale value of fish caught in English waters by EU registered fishing vessels in each year 2015-2025.

Although a breakdown of non-quota catches by species caught by EU vessels in UK waters is not published, cumulative catches are published as per Article 507 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These are published on gov.uk as part of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/specialised-committee-on-fisheriesData. Data on the firsthand sale value of fish caught in English waters by EU-registered vessels is not published.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many tonnes of fish have been caught in English waters between six and twelve nautical miles in each year 2015-2025.

Although UK and non-UK commercial fishing vessels are required to report catches in UK waters, they are not required to report whether those catches occurred in English waters or waters between six and twelve nautical miles. As such, this data is not collected. Catch statistics are regularly published by the MMO on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quota-use-statistics

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment has he made of the potential impact to non-quota stocks of fly-seine fishing vessel operations in the English Channel.

The number of fly-seine vessels operating in English waters including the Channel increased from 29 to 54 vessels between 2019 and 2024, while landings of non-quota stocks increased by some 50% between 2018 and 2023. Many non-quota stocks are data limited and have little management. It is for this reason Defra prioritised the development of Fisheries Management Plans for Non Quota stocks. In 2023 Defra published the Channel Demersal Non-Quota Stock Fisheries Management Plan to protect 19 vulnerable species and improve data collection. We also introduced precautionary measures including a minimum 100mm mesh size restriction for fly-seine vessels.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many at-sea boarding inspections of (a) EU registered fishing vessels and (b) English registered fishing vessels took place in English waters outside of six nautical miles in each year between 2020 and 2025.

The Marine Management Organisation does not publish a breakdown of inspections, including in-port inspections of English and EU-registered fishing vessels and at-sea inspections outside of six nautical miles. The MMO annual report, published on gov.uk, does provide an overview of inspections carried out: Marine Management Organisation Annual Report and Accounts.

Food and Rural Affairs, how much fishing effort, calculated in kilowatt days, has been conducted by fly-seine fishing vessels in the English Channel in each year 2015-2025.

Although UK and non-UK commercial fishing vessels are required to report catches in UK waters, they are not required to report whether those catches occurred in English waters or waters between six and twelve nautical miles. As such, this data is not collected. Catch statistics are regularly published by the MMO on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/quota-use-statistics

Food and Rural Affairs, what were the top ten by gross tonnage non-quota species caught by EU registered fishing vessels in each year 2020-2025.

Although a breakdown of non-quota catches by species caught by EU vessels in UK waters is not published, cumulative catches are published as per Article 507 of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. These are published on gov.uk as part of the Specialised Committee on Fisheries: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/specialised-committee-on-fisheriesData. Data on the firsthand sale value of fish caught in English waters by EU-registered vessels is not published.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many at-landing inspections took place in English ports for (a) EU registered fishing vessels, (b) English registered fishing vessels over ten meters in length and (c) English registered fishing vessels under ten meters in length in each year between 2020 and 2025.

The Marine Management Organisation does not publish a breakdown of inspections, including in-port inspections of English and EU-registered fishing vessels and at-sea inspections outside of six nautical miles. The MMO annual report, published on gov.uk, does provide an overview of inspections carried out: Marine Management Organisation Annual Report and Accounts.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will add priority species-rich grasslands to the list of irreplaceable habitats.

The Government has stated its intention to review the definition of irreplaceable habitats in due course, to ensure it remains robust and supports decision making.

Food and Rural Affairs, if he will review the definition of irreplaceable habitats to ensure it is (a) robust and (b) comprehensive to support decision makers.

The Government has stated its intention to review the definition of irreplaceable habitats in due course, to ensure it remains robust and supports decision making.

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with poultry industry representatives on the potential welfare merits of upright catching.

Following the publication of the public consultation on poultry catching and handling, we engaged with poultry industry representatives to discuss the potential welfare merits and harms of different poultry catching and handling methods, including upright catching.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of water lost due to leaking toilets in the UK; and if he will take steps to help reduce this.

Waterwise, the lead environmental non-governmental organisation for water efficiency, estimates to 8% of toilets are leaking around 400 litres a day each. The Government is committed to reducing leakage by 50% by 2050 as part of our legally binding target to reduce water use per person by 20% by 2038. This includes taking steps to reduce water wastage from toilets. Our recent update to our government response on a Call for Evidence on leaking toilets, conducted in 2022 outlined we are reviewing initial discussions with stakeholders as part of a ‘leaky loos taskforce’ to understand the steps needed to reduce toilet leakage.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Written Statement entitled Outcomes from Nature COP16, Cali, Colombia of 6 November 2024, HCWS196, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) increase funding to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and (b) join the Legacy Landscapes Fund.

At COP16, the UK pledged an additional financial contribution of £45 million to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund to help countries across the globe to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The UK also continues to encourage other countries and non-sovereign organisations to provide financial contributions. In December 2024, Defra joined the Legacy Landscapes Fund as a donor and has so far invested just over £10 million, helping to protect biodiversity, promote climate resilience and foster equitable development in some of the world’s most outstanding landscapes.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging fees on (a) food and (b) drink costs.

The Department has assessed the impact of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on both producers and consumers, including the potential effect on the affordability of food and drink. This assessment is included in Section 8 of the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. We are closely monitoring the potential impact of these costs on consumer prices and remain committed to balancing environmental goals with economic considerations.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of reductions in levels of Official Development Assistance spending on levels of funding for (a) the Darwin Initiative, (b) the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and (c) Darwin Plus.

No decisions have been made regarding future levels of funding for the Darwin Initiative, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, or Darwin Plus. Defra will allocate budgets to its Official Development Assistance programmes for future Financial Years after Defra receives its Multi-Year Spending Review settlement. The UK has a strong and pioneering record in overseas development and will continue to play a vital humanitarian role in crises such as those in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, while tackling global challenges including climate change and biodiversity loss.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging on SME beverage producers.

In October 2024 the Government published a final impact assessment on the pEPR scheme. The impact assessment did not look at the specific impacts of the pEPR scheme on individual sectors. The Government recognises the importance of protecting small producers from direct cost obligations. This is why the regulations include a de-minimis threshold of £2 million turnover and 50 tonnes which exempts approximately 70% of the producers supplying packaging in the UK from paying scheme fees.

Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the proportion of product liable for extended producer responsibility that will be sold to the on trade.

Since Autumn 2024, the Government has been working with stakeholders, including representatives of the hospitality sector, to consider potential amendments to the definition of household packaging. We are planning next steps as a priority and will share more information soon.

Food and Rural Affairs, what engagement he has had with glass manufacturers on the business impact of the forthcoming Extended Producer Responsibility scheme.

The UK’s packaging Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) policy has been in development since 2019. This is underpinned by extensive consultation and engagement with industry stakeholders, including the glass manufacturing sector, to provide businesses with a clear indication of the scheme’s design and implementation. Consultations were held in 2019 and 2021, concluding with a final consultation on reforms to the Packaging Recovery Note (PRN) system in 2022. In 2023, the four nations of the UK jointly consulted on the operability of the draft Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. Feedback from stakeholders during this process directly informed a number of amendments made prior to final regulations. Throughout this period, Defra officials engaged closely with industry experts, including the glass industry. This collaboration has helped to ensure that the modelling of local authority costs used within the scheme reflects the practical realities of waste management operations. We have made a full assessment of the expected business impacts of the policy, including on the glass sector. This is detailed in the official impact assessment for the Producer Responsibility Obligations (packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024, which remains publicly available: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging and Packaging Waste) Regulations 2024. The Government remains committed to ongoing engagement with manufacturers and other stakeholders to support the successful and fair implementation of the scheme.