Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 15 January 2025.

Exports of animals and meat susceptible to the disease prohibited.

The Government has stepped up measures to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), following a case being confirmed in Germany.

The commercial import of cattle, pigs, sheep, deer, buffaloes and their products such as meat, and dairy from Germany will now be banned to protect farmers and their livelihoods. GB health certificates will no longer be issued for animals susceptible to FMD including all live animals and fresh meat and animal products.

As of 15 January it is no longer permitted for travellers to bring unpackaged meat, meat products, milk and dairy products, certain composite products and animal by products of pigs and ruminants into Great Britain from the EU,  EFTA states,  Faroe Islands and Greenland. Additionally, these products may not be brought to Great Britain from Germany, even if commercially packaged.  These products can be placed in the secure bins provided in ports and airports.

The UK Chief Veterinary Officer is also urging livestock keepers to remain vigilant to the clinical signs of FMD following an outbreak of the disease in Germany. There are no cases in the UK currently.

FMD poses no risk to human or food safety, but is a highly contagious viral disease of cattle, sheep, pigs and other cloven-hoofed animals. Livestock keepers should therefore be absolutely rigorous about their biosecurity.

Maintaining good biosecurity is essential to protecting the health and welfare of herds and critical to preventing the spread of diseases such as FMD and preventing an outbreak spreading.

FMD causes significant economic losses due to production losses in the affected animals as well as loss of access to foreign markets for animals, meat and milk for affected countries.

Clinical signs to be aware of vary depending on the animals, but in cattle the key signs are sores and blisters on the feet, mouth and tongue with potentially a fever, lameness and a reluctance to feed. In sheep and pigs signs tend to manifest with lameness with potential for blistering.

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss said:

We remain in constant contact with German counterparts to understand the latest situation following their confirmation of a single case of Foot and Mouth disease.

We have robust contingency plans in place to manage the risk of this disease to protect farmers and Britain’s food security, which means using all measures to limit the risk incursion and spread of this devastating disease.

I would urge livestock keepers to exercise the upmost vigilance for signs of disease, follow scrupulous biosecurity and report any suspicion of disease immediately to the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

Everyone can help stop animal diseases spreading to this country by not bringing home meat, cheese and milk products when they travel abroad.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

The Government will do whatever it takes to protect our nation’s farmers from the risk posed by Foot and Mouth.

That is why restrictions have immediately been brought in on animal products from Germany to prevent an outbreak and we will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads.

We will continue to keep the situation under review working closely with the German authorities.

This comes as the Government announced a £200 million investment in the UK’s main research and laboratory testing facilities at Weybridge to bolster protection against animal disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease is a legally notifiable disease and must be reported. If you suspect a notifiable disease in your animals you must report it immediately by calling the Government Helpline. Failure to do so is an offence.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 9 January 2025.

Environment Secretary to set out his vision to boost farmers’ profitability and sustainability as part of the Plan for Change.

• First steps towards government to use its own purchasing power to buy British food
• Government to consider new reforms to speed up the planning process on farms to boost food production.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed will today (Thursday 9 January) set out the Government’s long-term vision to make farming more profitable and put more money back in the pockets of British farmers.

Speaking to farmers and landowners at the Oxford Farming Conference, Steve Reed will set out how the Government will work with farmers to deliver a profitable farming sector and unlock rural growth. This will include a cast iron commitment to food security while introducing reforms to help farmers diversify their income streams to support them during poor harvests.

As part of the Plan for Change, the Secretary of State will announce a series of reforms, delivering on the Government’s New Deal for Farmers including:

• Backing British produce: For the first time ever, the Government will monitor food currently bought in the public sector and where it is bought from. This is a significant first step to deliver on a manifesto pledge and make it easier for British farmers to win a share of the £5 billion spent each year on public sector catering contracts.
• Using planning reforms to support food production: Ensuring our reforms make it quicker for farmers to build the buildings, barns and other infrastructure they need on their farms to boost food production.
• Diversifying income streams: Helping farmers make additional money from selling surplus energy from solar panels and wind turbines by accelerating connections to the grid and support them during difficult harvests and supply shocks.
• A fair supply chain: Boosting profitability through fair competition across the supply chain. New rules for the pig sector will come this spring, ensuring contracts clearly set out expectations and changes can only be made if agreed by all parties. Similar regulations for eggs and fresh produce sectors will follow with the government ready to intervene with other sectors if needed.
• Protecting farmers in trade deals: The government will uphold and protect our high environmental and animal welfare standards in future trade deals.

Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will set out his vision for the future of farming in three parts – food production, business resilience and nature restoration:

The primary purpose of farming has – and always will be – to produce the food that feeds the nation.

Too many policymakers in Whitehall lose sight of that fact.

This Government is putting food production firmly back on the agenda.”

He is expected to say:

We will work in partnership to achieve our vision for the farming sector.

First, a sector whose primary purpose is food production.

Secondly, a sector where farmers can access diverse income streams to make a fair profit and ensure their business remains viable in times of challenge.

And thirdly, a sector which supports farmers to restore nature – the foundations of sustainable food production.

It is only through pursuing all three that we will achieve long-term food security.

This Government will work in partnership with the food and farming sectors to deliver the change needed starting now. The recently announced 25-year farming roadmap will act as the blueprint to get there.

The roadmap, which will be published later this year, will be the most forward-looking plan for farming in our country’s history and involve government and farmers working together to identify solutions to challenges and ensure government support is in place to enable farmers to take the actions that will let their businesses succeed.

These announcements come alongside the launch of the Accelerating Development of  Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) Fund, which will provide grant funding for farmer-led trials of innovative technology and techniques that drive sustainable food production, tackle climate change impacts, and protect nature. Further details on how farmers can apply will be released shortly.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 7 January 2025.

Minister Hardy and Philip Duffy discussed the response to flooding in the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and across the country.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy convened a further meeting with Environment Agency Chief Executive Philip Duffy this afternoon to discuss the nation’s response to the recent flooding events.

During the meeting, the Floods Minister was briefed on the current situation on the ground, and the response being led by the Environment Agency and the emergency services. She also discussed the further action being taken to protect communities over the next few days with minor flooding possible in some parts of the country continuing into Thursday. Together, they discussed how to continue to support the collective efforts of the Environment Agency, emergency services, and local authorities in responding to flooding.

Protecting communities around the country from flooding and coastal erosion is one of the Government’s priorities. It’s why £2.4 billion is being invested over the next two years to bolster the nation’s resilience, which is vital if we are to protect homes and business across the country.

The meeting comes as a mixture of snowmelt and saturated catchments has brought further disruption to parts of England, particularly in the Midlands, following the heavy rainfall over the New Year that saw significant river and surface water flooding across the North West of England and Yorkshire.

Since New Year’s Eve, the Environment Agency estimates that, in total across England, more than 41,000 properties have been protected but at least 300 properties have sadly flooded, with reports of further flooding being investigated.

The Environment Agency continues to monitor the forecast and impacts on river levels. Its message to the public remains to check their flood risk, sign up for free flood warnings and keep up to date with the latest situation.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

This afternoon I held an urgent meeting with the Environment Agency about the ongoing flooding incident.

My sympathies go out to the people, businesses and communities impacted by the recent flooding across the country.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks for the vital work that the Environment Agency and emergency services are doing to keep people safe. People must continue to follow their advice and sign up for flood warnings.

This Government is working at pace to accelerate the building of flood defences through our new Floods Resilience Taskforce and investing £2.4 billion, so we can continue to protect people and their homes.

Chief Executive Philip Duffy said:

My thoughts are with the people affected by flooding over the last week. We will continue our work to support flooded communities, and I want to thank teams from the Environment Agency and our partners for their tireless efforts this week.

With the risk from floods increasing due to climate change, I want to reassure people that we are intensifying our efforts to repair and maintain flood defences and work with communities nationwide to prepare for future wet weather.

The Government is working in lockstep with the Environment Agency to enhance preparations as we navigate the winter season and is swiftly integrating the insights from recent floods into the new Floods Resilience Taskforce. The taskforce is speeding up the delivery of flood defences and enhancing our national resilience to protect communities from extreme weather conditions.

Environment Agency teams continue to be out on the ground, operating flood defences, taking action to reduce the impact of flooding, issuing flood warnings and supporting those communities affected.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 17 December 2024.

Government acts decisively to force water companies to double the compensation paid to customers and businesses for service failures.

Water customers around the country will benefit from significantly higher payments to compensate them for water company service failures, the Government has confirmed today (17 December 2024).

Following public consultation, new and increased compensation will be compulsory for water companies to pay to customers and businesses in the event of issues like water supply outages, sewer flooding or low water pressure.

Issues like low water pressure could see payments of up to £250, compared to just £25 currently available, and payments for internal flooding from sewers could rise to £2,000 or more, compared to £1,000 under current rules.

Following a supply interruption in South Staffordshire last month as a result of a burst water main, compensation for residents was not compulsory. Under new regulations, this incident could have warranted payment of £150 for households and £300 for businesses.

The disruption experienced by residents in Bramley, Sussex in May after a historic fuel leak from a third-party petrol station led to a ‘Do Not Drink’ notice for 600 properties did not warrant mandatory compensation, though Thames Water offered a £30 voluntary payment. Today’s reforms would trigger a compulsory payment of £220 for households and £440 for businesses.

During a recent water quality incident in Brixham, Devon following an outbreak of cryptosporidium, there was no statutory entitlement to compensation for those affected. Under new rules, customers could be entitled to at least £10 per 24 hours, potentially amounting to more than £500 for incidents over 8 weeks such as that in Brixham.

In recognition of the impacts of these incidents, today’s reforms underscore the government’s commitments to hold water companies to account for poor performance and to stand up for consumers who receive compromised water services.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, said:

Customers have too often been let down by water companies, with supply cut off, low water pressure and in some cases even contaminated tap water.

We are clear that the public deserve better compensation when things go wrong, so I’m taking action to make sure that happens.

This is another step forward in our plans to reforms the water sector so it serves customers and the environment better.

Payment rates when water service standards are not met have remained unchanged since 2000, meaning reform is long overdue.

When supply interruptions take place, some water companies voluntarily offer compensation for their customers. However, there is no statutory requirement to do so, and compensation rates can vary significantly amongst companies and regions.

The changes will see the list of circumstances that can trigger compensation expand, to include when Boil Notices are issued by water companies when drinking water quality standards drop, or when firms fail to conduct meter readings or installations as promised.

This follows a public consultation which showed overwhelming public support for the changes, with an average of 84% water customers agreeing with the proposals, and 70% of businesses.

Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), commented:

The current Guaranteed Standards Scheme is not fit for purpose, so we welcome the swift action the Government has taken to bring about long-overdue improvements.

The increased payment levels when things go wrong, alongside fewer reasons for companies to avoid making payments, means that there are far greater incentives for water companies to get things right first time. The overhaul of these standards marks a step forward in improving consumer protection and repairing fractured trust in the water sector.”

The Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) establishes baseline expectations for customer service in the water sector, including timely restoration of water supply after interruptions, prompt responses to written complaints, and effective management of sewer flooding risks.

Strengthened protection and compensation for households and businesses was announced as part of the government’s initial steps towards ending the crisis in the water sector. In addition, the Water (Special Measures) Bill, which sees its second reading in the House of Commons this week, will:

• Strengthen regulation to ensure water bosses face personal criminal liability for lawbreaking.
• Give the water regulator new powers to ban the payment of bonuses if environmental standards are not met.
• Introduce new powers to bring automatic and severe fines.
• Require water companies to install real-time monitors at every sewage outlet with data independently scrutinised by the water regulators.
• Give Ofwat the power to set rules to increase customer representation in decision-making to hold companies to account.

Furthermore, the government has launched the largest review of sector since privatisation, creating an Independent Commission to examine the water sector and its regulation.

The Commission forms the next stage in the Government’s long-term approach to ensuring we have a sufficiently robust and stable regulatory framework to attract the investment needed to clean up our waterways, speed up infrastructure delivery and restore public confidence in the sector.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 December 2024.

National Parks and National Landscapes empowered to deliver more for people and nature with new legislation pledged.

• This marks the 75th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, which created our National Parks and National Landscapes
• This move comes amid the Government’s push to promote access to nature, as part of the wider Plan for Change

New powers are to be granted to the country’s iconic National Parks and National Landscapes to boost nature’s recovery and access to the outdoors.

New legislation and guidance will give National Parks and National Landscapes a clear mandate to widen the public’s access to nature through strengthened purposes and make changes to improve their governance that will allow for greater innovation and collaboration to prepare them for the future.

The changes announced today will see more trees planted, more peat restored and more habitat created, supporting Protected Landscapes to play a leading role in meeting Net Zero, Environment Act targets and the commitment to protect 30% of land for nature by 2030 as part of our Plan for Change.

Covering a quarter of England’s land area, improving the state of nature in our National Parks and Landscapes is vital to the health of our ecosystems. Our Protected Landscapes are home to nationally important habitats and our most iconic species – yet many are in a poor condition with the wildlife that lives within their boundaries in steep decline and the waterways that give many of these landscapes their magic now sadly polluted.

The measures will include a general power of competence for National Park Authorities, which will clarify their legal framework, removing restrictions which prevent an entrepreneurial approach, and cutting through bureaucracy to remove barriers to achieving more for people and nature.

The package will also strengthen the role that public bodies, including water companies, must play in delivering better outcomes for nature, water, climate and access to nature in these special places, through new regulation that will support public bodies and Protected Landscape organisations to work more closely together.

Refining the purpose and powers of National Parks and National Landscapes will promote access to nature for the millions of people who visit these iconic landscapes each year, helping them to support a thriving rural economy and enable people to reap the benefits of spending time in greener and wilder places.

These changes will empower Protected Landscapes to deliver more for nature and tackle climate change over the next 75 years and beyond. This reflects their vital importance to the nation – from protecting us from flooding, to celebrating our heritage and restoring our health and wellbeing.

This comes amid celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the creation of our Protected Landscapes through the 1949 National Parks and Access the Countryside Act – a visionary piece of legislation that paved the way for our iconic National Landscapes, Parks and Trails.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

“It’s seventy-five years since our National Parks and National Landscapes were created, and they have done incredible work protecting some of our most treasured and beautiful landscapes.

“But so much of our countryside and wildlife is in decline so we must do more to protect it. To mark this anniversary the Government will introduce new laws to boost protections for the natural world, strengthen our National Parks and National Landscapes and increase opportunities for millions of people to enjoy the great outdoors.”

With less than 40% of rivers in National Parks in good ecological status, the government will also develop new regulations to ensure public bodies operating in these beautiful areas including water companies, deliver better environmental outcomes. As an immediate step, new guidance is being published today that will help public bodies work together to make these special places greener, wilder and more accessible.

Natural England Chair Tony Juniper said:

“The 1949 National Parks Act laid the foundations for modern nature conservation, enshrining in law the means to protect dozens of exceptional landscapes and thousands of our best wild places while bringing joy to millions of people across multiple generations.

“Despite the achievements, however, these legal protections have not been sufficient to prevent Nature’s continuing decline. And whereas in decades past the challenge was about conservation, today we must not only hang on to what is left, but to also invest in Nature’s recovery.

“The reforms announced today are important steps that can help to turn the tide.”

Our countryside and green spaces are a source of great national pride, and today’s announcement is a further example of this government’s commitment to delivering on nature, increasing access, planting three new National Forests, creating nine new National River Walks and empowering communities to create new parks and green spaces in their communities with a new Community Right to Buy.

This Government is committed to restoring nature across the country, which is why we have wasted no time in announcing a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan, which thriving Protected Landscapes will be essential to delivering. This will set out pathways to clean up our waterways, reduce waste across the economy, plant millions more trees, improve air quality and halt the decline in species by 2030.  A healthy natural environment is crucial to the nation’s health and prosperity, which is why nature recovery is an integral part of the Governments Plan for Change to create a decade of national renewal.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• Protected Landscapes – the collective term for National Parks and National Landscapes – range from lowland landscapes, such as the Cotswolds and the Norfolk Coast, to uplands such as the North Pennines and the Lake District.
• Protected Landscapes contain half of England’s priority habits and Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 60% of deep peat and around 88% of heather and acid grassland habitats. Restoring our Protected Landscapes will be essential to protecting 30% of the UK’s land and sea by 2030.
• Further information on the Protected Landscapes Duty can be found here: The Protected Landscapes duty – GOV.UK

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2024.

• The UK fishing industry to benefit from 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities – 15,000 tonnes more than in 2024 – following negotiations with EU
• £890 million in fishing opportunities secured for British fishing fleets, boosting growth
• The agreements highlight all parties’ continued commitment to manage fisheries sustainably

The UK fishing industry will have access to 150,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities – 15,000 tonnes more than in 2024 – following the conclusion of annual fishing negotiations with the EU.

The agreement is worth up to £360 million for the industry.

This follows the UK’s trilateral agreement with the EU and Norway last week, which secured UK fisheries 290,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities in the North Sea and surrounding waters.

This is on top of 280,000 tonnes, worth around £240 million, from catch limits agreed earlier in the year on widely distributed stocks with coastal States in the northeast Atlantic.

In total, this brings fishing opportunities secured for the UK fleet in 2025 in the main negotiating forums to 720,000 tonnes, worth up to £890 million based on historic landing prices.

From these three negotiating forums, the UK has gained up to 120,000 tonnes more quota from the 2025 annual negotiations than it would have as an EU member state.

Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

Through these sets of negotiations this Government has agreed deals securing quota for stocks totalling up to £890 million for the UK fleet in 2025.

This is another example of how we are delivering on our Plan for Change, boosting our British fishing industry by supporting the lifeblood of many coastal communities.

The UK’s approach to negotiations

Sustainability has been at the heart of the UK’s approach to negotiations, pushing for decisions based on the best available science to protect key stocks and support the long-term viability of the UK fishing industry.

Advice from scientists at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is the starting point for the UK’s approach and, where possible, catch limits have been set at or within these advised levels.  Economic and social considerations are appropriately balanced alongside this scientific advice.

The outcome of annual fisheries negotiations will be published in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British boats by the end of the year.

Throughout the negotiations, the UK Government has worked closely with the devolved governments to ensure the benefits of the negotiations are spread across the UK.

The UK fishing industry will benefit from:

• Increased anglerfish quota;
• the continuation of the plaice 7de swap with the EU that allows for other target fisheries to continue where plaice is caught as a bycatch;
• an increase within scientific advice of some catch limits for seabass; and
• securing the continuation of the Irish sea herring fishery.

In other international fisheries negotiations this winter the UK has:

• led conservation and management measures on porbeagle and Rockall haddock in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, both being adopted by consensus;
• secured endorsement of our proposal for a retention ban of vulnerable mobulid rays and additional time next year for ongoing negotiations on bluefin tuna allocations in at the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna;
• successfully strengthened commitments on several aspects of fisheries management in the UN’s Resolution on Sustainable Fisheries, including pushing for progress in combating harmful subsidies at the WTO, highlighting the importance of transparency in fisheries management, maintaining ambition for the plastics treaty, and emphasising the importance of the precautionary approach; and
• played a key role in securing a Recommendation on Eliminating Government Support to Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, within the OECD’s Fisheries Committee.

Notes to editors

Values based on full uptake of fishing opportunities and provisional 2023 landing prices. All figures are rounded and may change slightly once a full analysis has been completed.

Bilateral fisheries negotiations between the UK and the Faroe Islands, and the UK and Norway are currently on-going.

The Agreed Records for the negotiations can be found on gov.uk:

• UK and EU bilateral negotiation
• Trilateral negotiations
• UK, EU and Norway trilateral negotiations
• Coastal States negotiations

Outcome of UK/EU bilateral negotiations 

This deal set catch limits of around 70 total allowable catches (TACs), monitoring arrangement for non-quota stocks as well as other arrangements on seabass and albacore. The agreement also commits the UK and EU to work together to provide more sustainable fisheries management, including

For non-quota stocks (NQS), the UK and the EU agreed a roll-over of access arrangements for 2025 to ensure continued access to fish NQS in EU waters. UK fleet landings for these stocks are historically worth around £30 million a year. We also agreed to roll-over existing joint management measures and increase within ICES advice some catch limits for seabass, and a roll-over of access arrangements for spurdog in the North Sea and albacore tuna.

The speed with which the negotiations concluded this year is a sign of the effective implementation of the TCA since 2020, which has built on collaborative efforts through the SCF.

Outcome of UK/EU/Norway trilateral negotiations

This deal agreed catch limits on six North Sea fish stocks including cod, haddock and herring and further stocks in other waters around the UK.

Read the relevant announcement on gov.uk

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 11 December 2024.

The Government has today confirmed it has injected more than £343 million into the rural economy in the first week of December, benefiting more than 31,000 farmers.

This includes payments worth £223 million to Countryside Stewardship revenue customers and £74 million to Environmental Stewardship customers, administered by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

The Government is providing over £5 billion to the farming budget – the largest ever increase investment in sustainable food production in our country’s history. To further support farmers Ministers have today announced new details on  how farmers will benefit from improved and optimised farming schemes.

A new and improved Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) scheme will open in 2025, providing new quarterly payments designed to improve farmers’ cashflow and a rolling application window so customers can apply throughout the year.

It also includes new actions to improve flood resilience and species abundance and important funding to secure enhanced environmental benefits and deliver for nature recovery, including sensitive areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed said:

Our commitment to farmers is steadfast.

That is why this Government is working hard to get money into farmers bank accounts as well as announcing today how farmers can benefit from the new Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme, with more flexible actions, improved payments to help cashflow and a rolling application window.

It’s part of our £5 billion farming budget over two years – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production in our country’s history.

As we set out our Plan for Change, we are focused on supporting our farmers, supporting rural economics growth and boosting Britain’s food security.

Rural Payments Agency Chief Executive Paul Caldwell said:

Our farmers are the heartbeat of the nation’s rural economy, and RPA remains focused on supporting them by getting payments into bank accounts as quickly as possible.

I am very pleased that this December we have been able to inject more funding than ever from environmental schemes into the rural economy.

This comes at the same time as providing more certainty over the details in Higher Tier offer to enable farmers to see for themselves how it can benefit them.

CSHT will open through an initial controlled roll out to ensure everyone gets the necessary support. Initially, applications will be by invitation – on a rolling monthly basis.

We are also publishing an additional 14 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) endorsed actions, further improving the offer. These will be available from summer 2025 to enable farmers and land managers to contribute further benefits to Grassland, Heritage, and Coastal sites, among others.

Further payments made in December include £39 million under SFI, as part of the quarterly payments system designed to improve farmers’ cashflow and a further £7.4 million has been paid to customers who have completed Capital Grants works.

As part of its New Deal for Farmers, the Government will set up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.

We are also developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come.

Farmers and land managers are stewards of the environment, and we will continue to invest in them to make their businesses, food production and our country more sustainable and resilient through Environmental Land Management.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 28 November 2024.

The Taskforce will strengthen collaborative working across the UK to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland.

• Forestry Minister Mary Creagh hosts new Tree Planting Taskforce to oversee tree-planting across the UK.
• Taskforce brings together ministers from across the four UK nations, key forestry delivery partners and arm’s-length bodies.
• Forestry leaders to provide oversight, share best practice and identify shared blockers and barriers to tree-planting.

A new Tree Planting Taskforce has been launched today to oversee the planting of millions of trees across the UK (Thursday 28 November).

The Taskforce, chaired by the forestry ministers from the four nations, brought together representatives from key arm’s-length bodies and delivery partners from across the UK.

Top of the agenda at the meeting was how to drive forward the UK’s tree planting in order to meet our collective net zero targets, as part of the Government’s critical mission to make the UK a clean and green energy superpower.

The UK has less tree cover than almost anywhere in Europe and more work is needed to close this gap.  Our nation’s woodlands and trees are the heart of communities around the UK, essential to supporting wellbeing and improving quality of life, alongside providing sustainable timber and being home to some of our most important species.

The Taskforce is designed to strengthen collaborative working across the UK, identifying opportunities to work together, to improve tree planting and ensure the long-term survival of woodland, safeguarding their benefits for future generations.

Forestry Minister Mary Creagh said: 

This Government was elected on a mandate to protect and restore nature.

That is why today I am proud to fulfil our promise to set up a Tree Planting Taskforce that will oversee the planting of millions of trees across our four nations.

Trees deliver huge social, environmental and economic benefits – from absorbing carbon dioxide, cooling our cities, improving wellbeing and helping reduce NHS costs, while a thriving forestry sector supports green jobs and drives economic growth.

Richard Stanford, Chair of the Forestry Commission said:

There has never been a more crucial time to take action to increase and improve the number of trees, woods and forests growing across the UK for future years. It is vital that our four nations unite and work in partnership on this mission.

This new Tree Planting Taskforce, is committed to delivering the shared aims of forestry across the four nations so we can continue to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges with thriving trees, woods and forests.

Scotland’s Rural Affairs Secretary Mairi Gougeon said:

I welcome the formation of this Taskforce as we all have a collective interest in increasing woodland cover and obtaining the multiple benefits this will bring, especially for climate change and addressing biodiversity loss.

Currently Scotland has delivered around 75% of all new woodlands in the UK. In 23/24 we created 15,000 ha of new woodland and this accounted for over 50% of the UK target.  Whilst this is a substantial contribution, we know there is potential for us all to do more.

The new Taskforce will be a great opportunity for all the countries to share valuable insights and ideas to expand our woodlands and create resilient forests for the future.

Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir said:

I welcome the establishment of a Tree Planting Task Force across the UK and believe that the Taskforce represents a powerful vehicle to facilitate collaborative working to achieve our challenging tree planting targets.

The work of this taskforce will be pivotal to finding ways to encourage a greater level of tree planting to deliver on climate change goals, enhance our biodiversity and underpin the sustainability of forests and woodlands for successive generations.

Deputy First Minister for Wales with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies said:

Wales was one of the first nations in the world to declare a climate emergency and we welcome the opportunity to be members of the UK Tree Planting Task Force.

Forestry is a devolved matter, but we all face some common challenges and there are clear benefits to sharing good practice between nations. We want to continue to make it easier for landowners in Wales to plant trees in ways which both add value to their businesses and help us tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

Creating green jobs and growth in our rural communities is a key priority for us, and a prosperous trees and forestry sector alongside a thriving agricultural sector is crucial to this. That’s why I’m delighted that we’ll be publishing a consultation on a Timber Industrial Strategy for Wales in the new year. I’m looking forward to the task force helping us deliver on our commitments for Wales.

The announcement today comes after a commitment in the Budget to provide up to £400 million in England across the next two years (2024/5 and 2025/6) for tree planting and peatland restoration.

This Government is delivering its promise to protect and restore nature. It has launched a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to ensure we meet our legal targets, including the Environment Act target of 16.5% tree cover by 2050.

It has also pledged to restore our place as an international leader on nature and climate – recently announcing the next steps towards meeting the international target of 30% of our land and seas protected for nature by 2030 and appointing the first ever Special Representative for Nature.

Notes to editors: 

List of attendees:

• Defra Minister for Nature, Mary Creagh
• Deputy First Minister (DFM) for Wales and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies
• Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Mairi Gougeon Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir
• Representatives from Forestry Commission, Natural Resources Wales, Scottish Forestry, Northern Ireland Forest Service
• Representatives from England’s Community Forests, Community Forest Trust, National Forest Company, Woodland Trust, Confor
• Government officials

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 26 November 2024.

Further action is needed to improve bathing water quality.

92% of bathing waters in England have met minimum water quality standards, with 85% of bathing waters being rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, new annual figures released today show.

The 2024 statistics on English coastal and inland bathing waters follow testing by the Environment Agency at 450 sites regularly used by swimmers throughout the summer, including 27 new sites designated earlier this year. These tests monitor for sources of pollution known to be a risk to bathers’ health, specifically E. coli and intestinal enterococci.

Despite significant improvement since the 1990s, when just 28% were rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, today’s results make clear that more still needs to be done to improve their quality for people and the environment.

The proportion of ‘good’ and ‘excellent’-rated sites has fallen slightly, in part due to the existing water quality of the 27 new bathing water sites designated this year, 18 of which are classified as ‘poor’. This is not unexpected, as the new sites have not been managed for bathing before, and it takes time to understand and tackle the sources of pollution affecting them.

Without the newly designated bathing waters, 95% of sites would meet minimum standards this year, only slightly down from 96% last year.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

Bathing waters are hugely important for communities and for the environment – and we know there is growing public demand for bathing sites across the country, including at our lakes and rivers.

While overall bathing water quality has improved in recent decades due to targeted investment and robust regulation, today’s results show there is much work still to do, particularly to bring our inland bathing waters up to standard.

We are working with the water industry, farmers and local authorities and are investing in our regulation, with more people on the ground, updated digital assets and new legal powers to improve our bathing waters for all.

The figures also show a notable difference between the quality of coastal and inland bathing waters, with 95% of coastal waters meeting minimum standards this year, compared to only 53% of inland sites. Rivers often have poorer bathing water quality compared to the sea which benefits from the natural disinfection of salt water and greater dispersal of pollutants.

The results follow the launch on 12 November of a Government consultation on proposed reforms to bathing water regulations to ensure a more flexible approach to designation and monitoring. This includes assessing water quality and the feasibility of improvement at a site prior to designation.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

These figures are unacceptable and show that too many of our popular swimming spots are polluted.

That’s why we are placing water companies under special measures through the Water Bill, which will strengthen regulation including new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against persistent law breakers.

This is just the start – we’ve launched the largest review of the water sector since privatisation to attract the investment we need and reform the water system to help clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.

Following today’s results, the Environment Agency is working with local partners to take targeted action to improve water quality at all bathing water classified as ‘Poor’.

Wider measures to improve water quality include:

• Driving up monitoring of water companies with new flow monitors installed on more than 2,000 wastewater treatment works and 100% of storm overflows now monitored. We are increasing water company inspections to 4,000 by the end of March 2025; 10,000 in 2025/6 and 11,500 in 2026/27.  This will increase our inspection and audit work substantially to uncover non-compliance. We are also carrying out our largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water companies. Since 2015, we have concluded 63 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £151 million.
• Supporting farmers to reduce water pollution and an increase in agricultural regulation, including doubling funding for free face-to-face support on reducing water pollution to all farmers in England. The Environment Agency carried out more than 4,800 farm inspections across England last year, helping farmers comply with legal requirements and resulting in more than 7,000 actions undertaken to improve farm practices and drive improvements to our environment.

The Environment Agency is changing its approach to regulation of the water industry by:

• Investing around £15 million in enhancing our digital systems and tools. Data and information from lots of sources will be combined to turn data rapidly into regulatory intelligence to easily identify and tackle the highest priority issues.
• Investing in 500 additional staff including environment officers, data analysts, enforcement specialists and technical experts, as well as team leaders and managers.
• Continuing to prioritise attendance at all Category 1 and 2 serious and significant water company pollution incidents but also increasing our attendance at Category 3 (minor) water company pollution incidents.
• Being more open and transparent about the way we regulate the industry. To help people get the information they need we recently launched our new Water Hub. This will hold all our data and guidance on water in one place for the public to easily access.

Notes to editors:

• Last year’s statistics showed that 96% of bathing water sites met the minimum standard of Sufficient, while 90% met the highest standards of Good and Excellent.
• 450 bathing waters in England were sampled this year and have been classified as either Excellent, Good, Sufficient or Poor. These classifications and information about water quality will be displayed at each bathing water and on bathing water profiles available to access on the Environment Agency’s Swimfo website.
• The bathing water season runs from May to September every year. The Environment Agency took 7,420 samples during the 2024 bathing season. The Environment Agency takes up to 20 water samples at each of England’s designated bathing waters during the season.
• The sampling programme is set ahead of the start of season to avoid bias and follows a strict protocol to ensure samples are taken consistently in terms of depth of water, location where most bathers are expected and also covering a range of tidal states where safe to sample.
• Other factors which influence bathing water quality can include tides, and physical or environmental changes at a site, with every catchment affected differently.
• Our standards for bathing waters come from guidelines produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and are science based. They have been adopted by many countries through the EU Bathing Water Directive, which England’s Bathing Water Regulations are based on.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 18 November 2024.

The UK’s Chief Veterinary Officers are urging all bird keepers to follow scrupulous biosecurity measures following the confirmation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 and HPAI H5N5 in poultry in England.

To prevent further spread of the disease all poultry on the infected premises will be humanely culled and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone has been put in place surrounding the affected premises.

Within these disease control zones restrictions on the movement of poultry and other captive birds, carcases, eggs, used poultry litter and manure apply. Bird keepers in the disease control zones will have the opportunity to apply for movement licences for some specific low risk movements from the zones. Within the 3km protection zone bird keepers must also house their birds to protect them.

Disease control zones are only lifted once all disease control and surveillance activities in the zones have been successfully completed and there are no suspect cases under investigation in the zones.

The new cases of HPAI in kept birds follows the recent increase in risk levels for both wild birds and poultry, and detection of both HPAI H5N1 and HPAI H5N5 in wild birds in Great Britain and across continental Europe.

All bird keepers are urged to remain vigilant and take action to protect their birds. Practicing good biosecurity at all times protects the health and welfare of kept birds and for commercial keepers will help protect businesses from HPAI and other diseases. Bird keepers can find out what they can do to prevent bird flu and stop it spreading and how to spot and report suspicion of avian influenza in poultry or other captive birds together with updates on the latest situation in Defra’s guidance at gov.uk/birdflu.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that avian influenza is primarily a disease of birds and the risk to the general public’s health is very low but people should not touch any dead or sick wild birds they find.

The Food Standards Agency advises that properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, remain safe to eat.

UK Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, Jorge Martin-Almagro, said:

Avian influenza (‘bird flu’) has been confirmed in poultry at premises in England. Immediate steps have been taken to limit the risk of the disease spreading and all remaining poultry at the farm will be humanly culled.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) currently advises that the risk to the general public’s health from bird flu is very low, and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said that bird flu does not pose a food safety risk for UK consumers.

Winter is a greater risk period for avian influenza and these cases demonstrate that, now is the time if you are a bird keeper to ensure you have very robust biosecurity. Bird keepers must remain alert for any signs of disease and report suspected disease immediately.

In Great Britain members of the public are encouraged to report findings of dead wild birds using the online reporting system or by calling the Defra helpline (03459 33 55 77). By reporting dead wild birds, you are helping Defra and APHA understand, the risk to different species groups of wild birds, the risk posed to poultry & other captive birds and the risk of overspill into mammals.