Tag: Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

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

Will Quince MP appointed to conduct review into public sector food procurement.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay has today (Monday 11 March) appointed Will Quince MP as an independent advisor to support the government’s ongoing work to improve food procurement in the public sector.

His review will:

• seek ways to make the system more accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses and farmers, as well as boosting animal welfare and environmental standards.
• look at how the government can further promote high standards for food and catering services, for example in hospitals or local authority settings, such as residential care.
• consider opportunities to extend the reach of the existing framework, the Government Buying Standard for food and catering services, particularly to education settings.
• explore how we can ensure more compliance with the GBSF, or have institutions go above and beyond in areas like nutrition or waste prevention.

Will Quince MP worked in the food and drink industry prior to becoming an MP, and has since held ministerial roles at both the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care.

Mr Quince will engage with stakeholders across the public sector food and catering supply chain and will also examine international practices.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

I’m pleased to appoint Will Quince to conduct a review of our public sector food procurement.

We will ensure our schools, hospitals and armed forces are using their budgets to support sustainable food produced to the high animal welfare standards we have here in Britain, which are some of the best in the world.

Will Quince is ideally placed to lead this work given his wealth of experience in numerous departments, including DHSC and DfE.

Will Quince MP said:

Public bodies spend around £5bn on food every year so it’s right that we look at opportunities to boost the impact food procurement has on the environment and the local community.

Whether it’s schools, our armed forces, hospitals, prisons or local councils, I look forward to working with all those involved in the production, buying, cooking, serving and consumption of food in public bodies to identify the ways in which we can deliver on our commitments on climate, nature and health and considering the benefits of, and barriers to delivering food that is fresh, local and sustainable.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 5 March 2024.

Measures have been signed into law today (Tuesday 5 March) to ban the keeping of primates as pets.

The legislation brings in a licensing scheme setting strict rules to ensure that only private keepers who meet new welfare and licensing standards will be able to keep primates, delivering on a manifesto commitment and Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge to provide greater legal protection for pet primates.

The measures come into force from 6 April 2026 when all primates in England will need to be kept to these zoo-level standards – in effect banning the practice of keeping primates as pets.

It is estimated that up to 5,000 primates are currently kept in domestic settings as pets in the UK. These wild animals have complex welfare and social needs and, according to most experts, cannot be properly cared for in these environments. The new measures will improve the welfare of potentially thousands of these intelligent animals.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Douglas-Miller said:

“We are proud to have some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, including these new restrictions which will help tackle the inadequate conditions that some of these inquisitive creatures are kept in.

“Anyone who fails to provide the same welfare standards as found in a zoo faces a fine and having the primate removed from their care.”

RSPCA Head of Public Affairs David Bowles said:

“Meeting the needs of monkeys and other primates is practically impossible to do in a household, domestic environment.

“That’s why this legislation will be a really important moment for animal welfare – ensuring primates can only be kept in an appropriate environment, as we all strive to create a better world for every animal.

“Too often, our dedicated officers are called to properties where monkeys live in the wrong surroundings, eat totally inappropriate diets and are at risk of suffering behind closed doors. This new law has the potential to change that.”

Under the law all private primate keepers will be required to hold a licence, issued by their local authority, with failure to comply with licence conditions resulting in an unlimited fine or removal of the primate. Defra will work closely with local authorities to make sure that they have the appropriate tools and guidance to ensure that enforcement will be carried out effectively.

The new law builds on our recent consultation and flagship Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which committed us to going even further to protect animals, including banning the export of live animals with a Bill currently going through Parliament.

Since publishing the Action Plan for Animal Welfare in 2021, we have brought in new laws to recognise animal sentience; introduced tougher penalties for animal cruelty offences; extended the ivory ban to cover other ivory bearing species; and supported legislation to ban glue traps, the import of detached shark fins and measures to ban the advertising and offering for sale of low welfare activities abroad.

The UK was the first country in the world to introduce animal cruelty offences and are the highest ranked G7 nation according to the World Animal Protection’s Index.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 March 2024.

English hedgerows will be protected in law as the government sets out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year.

English hedgerows will be protected in law as the government today (4 March) sets out its plans for domestic hedgerow regulations, following a consultation last year.

Backed by over 95% of consultation responses, and providing continuity for farmers and land managers, the regulations will include a two metre ‘buffer strip’ from the centre of hedgerows with no cultivation or application of pesticides or fertilisers, and a hedge cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds.

A fairer, more proportionate enforcement approach focused on outcomes will see farmers provided with advice to help them comply with requirements – very different from the approach seen previously.

The regulations will support the efforts of many farmers already carrying out vital work to protect hedgerows, providing important ecological benefits including wildlife habitats, slowing soil erosion and water run-off, supporting crop pollinators and absorbing carbon.

This includes over 90,000km of hedgerows being managed through 16,000 agreements in the government’s Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, and more than 13,000km of hedgerows created or restored using Countryside Stewardship grants.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

Farmers have been protecting, planting and maintaining our hedgerows for centuries and I want to thank them for their continued efforts to help wildlife thrive on their farms alongside food production.

I am delighted that thousands of farmers are taking up the support and guidance on offer in our Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes.

Almost 9,000 consultation responses were received and highlighted clear support from farmers and environmental groups for hedgerows to be protected in law.

Alongside the two metre buffer strips and spring/summer hedge cutting ban, the government will also introduce a streamlined notification process for farmers needing an exemption to cut or trim hedges in August if they are sowing oilseed rape or temporary grass.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:

Hedgerows have long-shaped our beautiful countryside and provide homes for a huge variety of birds and wildlife, while delivering clear benefits for water, soil and the climate.

Our consultation showed just how valued our hedgerows are by farmers, the public and environmental groups alike, and these regulations will mean we can all reap the benefits they bring for generations to come.

The new requirements will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time allows and will be regulated by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) who will provide advice and guidance to help farmers comply with the regulations. The government will also introduce civil and criminal sanctions to enable the RPA to take appropriate and proportionate actions against anyone causing serious or repeated damage.

The government will launch a consultation and work with farmers and environmental groups to inform the statutory guidance that will be used to enforce the regulations.

These regulations will sit alongside the existing Hedgerows Regulations 1997 which prohibit the removal of countryside hedgerows, or parts of them, without first seeking approval from the Local Planning Authority. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 meanwhile prohibits the killing, injuring or taking of wild birds, or taking or damaging their eggs and nests.

The full government response and summary of responses has been published online.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 4 March 2024.

UK secures over 2,200 tonnes of fishing quota through annual negotiations with the Faroe Islands.

The UK fishing industry will benefit from access to over 2,200 tonnes of fishing opportunities following annual negotiations with the Faroe Islands for 2024, the UK government has announced today (Monday 4th March).

The agreement will see fishermen benefit from 920 tonnes of cod and haddock, 600 tonnes of saithe, as well as Redfish, blue ling and ling, flatfish and other species.

The agreement also reconfirms the UK and Faroese commitments to cooperate on monitoring, control and surveillance measures, as well as scientific cooperation.

The deal follows the conclusion of negotiations with the EU and Norway before Christmas, which gave the UK fishing industry access to 420,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities worth up to £700 million.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

I’m pleased that we have been able to reach a deal with the Faroe Islands for 2024, giving UK fishing vessels access to key stocks such as haddock and saithe.

This builds on the strong deals that the UK has already concluded with the EU and Norway for 2024, negotiating as an independent coastal state to support a profitable and sustainable UK fishing industry, while safeguarding our marine environment for future generations.”

Leaving the EU has meant that the UK has been able to seize post-Brexit freedoms, negotiating deals which are in the best interests of the UK fishing industry.

The UK negotiates annually with the Faroese Government under the bilateral framework agreement to consider potential exchanges of quota and broader fisheries management measures.

The agreement highlights both parties’ continued commitment to manage fisheries sustainably and support the long-term viability of stocks.

Throughout the negotiations, the UK Government worked closely with the devolved administrations to ensure that all fishing communities across the UK will benefit from the agreement.

Further information:

• The Agreed Record for the negotiations between the UK and Faroe Islands can be seen here

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 27 February 2024.

Sustainable approaches to the circular economy and resource efficiency will be developed to enable the transition to a greener future.

The UK will establish the world’s first United Nations-backed International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management in the Circular Economy, Resources Minister Robbie Moore announced today (Tuesday 27 February).

Recognising world-class British academic expertise and cutting-edge scientific research, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will support the establishment of the centre in the UK.

A circular economy is one in which resources are kept in use for as long as possible, rather than being taken from the earth, used once and disposed of in landfill.

The centre will develop sustainable approaches to the circular economy and resource efficiency to enable carbon reduction and the transition to a greener future. The UK will help countries across the world to maximise the environmental and economic opportunities the circular economy offers.

Opening formally in April 2024, the centre will comprise five institutions: University College London (UCL), University of Exeter, Brunel University London, Swansea University and the British Geological Survey.

Co-ordinated by a Government-funded UNECE research manager based in Geneva, this coalition will leverage their expertise to explore circularity in areas such as metals, construction and critical minerals to develop effective data, technological innovation, finance models and policy. The five participating institutions have together contributed £1.85 million to fund the centre’s technical activities.

Resources Minister Robbie Moore said:

This is real recognition of the UK’s global leadership in sustainable resource management and testament to Britain’s world-leading academic expertise.

We are delighted to host this centre, enabling our cutting-edge UK academics to develop the tools and research that will help countries across the world seize the opportunities of the circular economy, leading the way in the transition to a greener future.

UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean said:

Making the use of our resources more sustainable and moving towards a circular economy is fundamental to sustainable development and climate action.

Partnerships mobilising international expertise play an important role in UN cooperation to develop and share best practices. I welcome the establishment of this new Centre of Excellence, with its focus on circularity of metals, construction and critical raw materials.

The centre will also draw heavily on the success of several of the partner institutions in the National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) research and development programme, a four-year £30 million investment established by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ chief scientist in 2019 under the UK Government’s Strategic Priorities Fund.

In July 2023, the UK government announced new plans setting out its long-term aim to use fewer new resources, drive up the repair and reuse of existing materials and increase recycling. The programme – Maximising Resources, Minimising Waste – brings together a range of measures backed by government funding which will help to keep products and materials in circulation for as long as possible and at their highest value, including through increasing reuse, repair and remanufacture, helping to grow the economy and boost employment.

Today’s announcement will help drive the programme forward and contribute to the UK’s world-leading efforts to protect the environment and improve its use of resources.

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

Government to consult on largest ever rollout of new bathing water sites.

• Government to consult on largest ever rollout of new bathing water sites
• Members of the public are invited to have their say before the consultation closes on 10 March

Plans to designate the largest ever number of new bathing water sites have been set out by the Water Minister today (26th February), as part of the government’s plan to improve water quality across the country.

Subject to a two-week consultation, the Environment Agency will create 27 new designated swimming spots across England. If designated, sites will receive regular water monitoring from the Environment Agency, who will investigate pollution sources and identify steps to be taken in response, which could include actions by water companies, farmers and others.

Last year, 96% of bathing waters in England met minimum standards and 90% of bathing waters in England were rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’, up from 76% in 2010, despite the classification standards becoming stricter in 2015. The government also updated its guidance last year to make the application process clearer and easier to follow.

All residents, bathers, businesses, and organisations are invited to have their say before the consultation closes on 10 March.

Water Minister Robbie Moore said:

Many people enjoy spending time in our rivers, lakes, and coastal beaches, and I am very aware of the value they bring in terms of social, health and wellbeing benefits.

I want to continue to improve the quality of our bathing waters, which is why we are taking action across the board to drive up standards and hold water companies to account.

I encourage all local communities and organisations with an interest to take part in this consultation and have their say.

Currently, when selecting new sites, Defra considers how many people bathe there and if the site has suitable infrastructure and facilities, such as toilets. All applications are assessed against these factors and only those that meet these factors are taken forward to public consultation.

The sites being considered for designation are:

• Church Cliff Beach, Lyme Regis, Dorset
• Coastguards Beach, River Erme, Devon
• Coniston Boating Centre, Coniston Water, Cumbria
• Coniston Brown Howe, Coniston Water, Cumbria
• Littlehaven Beach, Tyne and Wear
• Manningtree Beach, Essex
• Monk Coniston, Coniston Water, Cumbria
• River Avon at Fordingbridge, Hampshire
• River Cam at Sheep’s Green, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
• River Dart Estuary at Dittisham, Devon
• River Dart Estuary at Steamer Quay, Totnes, Devon
• River Dart Estuary at Stoke Gabriel, Devon
• River Dart Estuary at Warfleet, Dartmouth, Devon
• River Frome at Farleigh Hungerford, Somerset
• River Nidd at the Lido Leisure Park in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
• River Ribble at Edisford Bridge, Lancashire
• River Severn at Ironbridge, Shropshire
• River Severn at Shrewsbury, Shropshire
• River Stour at Sudbury, Suffolk
• River Teme at Ludlow, Shropshire
• River Tone in French Weir Park, Taunton, Somerset
• Wallingford Beach, River Thames, Berkshire
• Derwent Water, Crow Park, Keswick, Cumbria
• River Wharfe at Wetherby Riverside, West Yorkshire
• Goring Beach, Worthing, West Sussex
• Worthing Beach House, Worthing, West Sussex
• Rottingdean Beach, Rottingdean, East Sussex

This consultation will build on recent improvements the government has delivered to the water environment, including:

• Announcing a ban on bonuses for water company executives whose firms have committed serious criminal breaches – subject to Ofwat consultation.
• Quadrupling the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity – allowing them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of the next financial year.
• Requiring companies to monitor 100% of storm overflows in England – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
• Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
• Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp aging assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
• Increasing protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
• Providing £10 million in support for farmers to store more water on their land through the Water Management Grants to support food production and improve water security.
• Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 February 2024.

Forty projects which will use natural processes such as planting trees and creating wetlands to reduce the risk of flooding are set to benefit from a £25 million government programme, Floods Minister Robbie Moore announced today (Friday 23 February).

Part of the government’s plan to increase the nation’s flood resilience, natural flood management processes protect, restore, and mimic the natural functions of catchments, floodplains and the coast to slow and store water.

Community, charity and council projects set to benefit from the £25 million Natural Flood Management programme include:

Severn Rivers Trust will carry out a mixture of natural flood management measures in the headwaters of Illey Brook, near Halesowen in the West Midlands. Many of these works will focus on soil and land management – slowing and storing surface water runoff, while also reducing soil erosion and supporting agriculture. New woodland areas and hedgerows will support wetland complexes and the creation of new habitats.

The Ribble Rivers Trust has proposed a number of projects focusing on slowing river flows across the Ribble catchment, in Darwen, Clitheroe and Lea Green. Swales, ponds and leaky barriers across watercourses will slow and store floodwater in the upper reaches of the River Darwen catchment, whilst vegetation management and new woodland will intercept the flow of water as it runs downhill, reducing runoff and enabling water to be stored in the soil.

The announcement comes after a wide range of applications were submitted to the Environment Agency by community groups, environmental charities and councils for grants, following the launch of the largest-ever investment in natural flood management schemes in September last year.  The Environment Agency led a review of these applications, with input from Defra and Natural England.

Environment Agency chair Alan Lovell said:

It’s exciting to see such appetite for Natural Flood Management, recognising its value in providing not only benefits against flood risk but also wider support for nature recovery.

I’m proud of the role the Environment Agency is playing in leading this pioneering programme. We look forward to working with partners to help natural techniques become a mainstream option for flood protection and help create more climate resilient places.

Floods Minister Robbie Moore said:

It’s vital we use nature as an ally in our work to become ready for climate change, helping to restore the natural environment and protecting homes and businesses. That’s why we’re funding the biggest-ever investment in natural flood management – and it’s great to see the huge demand.

These schemes will complement traditional bricks-and-mortar defences, all funded by our £5.2 billion flood programme. This programme is one more part of our plan to bolster flood resilience and shield communities – all whilst boosting biodiversity, restoring habitats and protecting the environment for future generations.

Mark Lloyd, chief executive of The Rivers Trust, said:

We warmly welcome this significant fund which will not only protect people and businesses from flooding, but will also make more space for nature, purify pollutants, recharge groundwater aquifers, lock up organic carbon and create amenity value for communities.

The new funding builds on the £15m natural flood management pilot programme which ran until 2021, creating the equivalent of 1.6 million cubic metres of water storage and reducing flood risk to 15,000 homes.

The Environment Agency is managing the new £25 million programme with work taking place from now until March 2027.

The programme will help meet the goals of the National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England, which provides a longer-term vision of how we will better protect and prepare homes and businesses from flooding and coastal change and create climate resilient places.

It also supports the Government Policy Statement on Flood and Coastal Erosion Management, which highlights the importance of harnessing the power of nature, and the Environmental Improvement Plan, which recognises the need to mitigate and adapt to climate change with the use of nature-based solutions. Investing in natural flood management will support the government’s plan to better protect communities while tackling climate change and benefitting nature.

To find out more about the Natural Flood Management Programme and for a full list of successful projects refer to our Gov.uk pages and below.

Successful applicants and schemes:

• City of Doncaster Council, Bentley NFM Opportunities
• Northumberland County Council, Alnmouth Coastal scheme
• National Trust, Common Farm Hydrological Restoration
• National Trust, Resilient Coledale
• Community Forest Trust, Whitewell Brook NFM
• Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Darwen Community Catchment
• Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Clitheroe Community Catchment
• Ribble Rivers Trust, Ribble Revival: Wrea Green Community Catchment
• Wyre River Trust, Wyre Catchment Resilience Programme
• Brampton 2 Zero CiC, Brampton Natural Flood Management Project
• National Trust, Poynton and Micker (Norbury) Catchment Plan (Headwaters)
• Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Meols Natural Flood Management Scheme
• Mersey Rivers Trust, Alt Catchment NFM
• Woodland Trust, Smithills Estate NFM 2024
• City of Trees Trust, Cromton Moor Slow the Flow Leaky Dams
• Severn Rivers Trust, Illey Brook NFM
• Leicester City Council, Leicester Urban NFM – Willow Brook Catchment
• Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, Saving Worksop and Shireoaks through NFM
• Nottinghamshire County Council, Cropwell Butler Natural Flood Management
• Lincolnshire County Council, Barrow Beck Chalk Stream Restoration
• East Mercia Rivers Trust, Field Beck NFM – Holdingham, Sleaford
• Lincolnshire County Council, Building Flood Resilience in the River Rase Catchment
• National Trust, Northey Island Causeway Saltmarsh Management
• River Waveney Trust, Diss Natural Flood Management
• Essex County Council, Hockley Woods Leaky Dams
• RSPB, Beneficial Use of Dredged Sediment (BUDS) in the Blackwater Estuary
• Norfolk County Council, North Attleborough Flood Alleviation Scheme
• London Borough of Hillingdon, Pinn Meadows Natural Flood Management
• South Oxfordshire District Council, The Goggs, Watlington NFM Scheme
• Surrey County Council, Ash Ranges NFM
• High Weald AONB Partnership (East Sussex County Council), High Weald AONB NFM Project (Alder Stream)
• RSPCA, Marsham Valley Natural Flood Management Partnership
• The Friends of Cannizaro Park, Cannizaro Park NFM Programme
• Royal Borough of Greenwich Council, Marsh Dykes and Thamesmead Flood Alleviation Network
• High Weald AONB Partnership (East Sussex County Council), High Weald AONB NFM Project (Crawley – Stanford Brook)
• National Trust, Swan Brook Wetlands
• Dorset AONB Partnership, hosted by Dorset Council, West Dorset Rivers & Coastal Streams Natural Flood Management Programme
• Sidbury Manor Estate, Sidbury Manor Estate & The River Sid Catchment
• Environment Agency, Climate Resilient Otter Catchment (CROC)
• Westcountry Rivers Trust, Climate Resilient Mevagissey

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 23 February 2024.

Certain fishermen to benefit from fast-tracked applications to Fisheries and Seafood Scheme.

New measures to help fishermen affected by restrictions to pollack fishing for 2024 have been announced by the government today (Friday 23 February).

Hand-and-pole line fishermen of under-10m vessels, which includes some of those affected by the zero Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for pollack, will be able to benefit from fast-tracked applications for a share of £6 million in grant funding available through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme.

Separately, they will also have the opportunity to be paid for their participation in a new scientific study which will aim to understand more about the stock structure of pollack – and sell the pollack that they catch as part of the study.

During recent fisheries negotiations with the EU, it was decided pollack can only be caught as bycatch in 2024. This followed advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) to set the TAC for pollack to zero.

The government’s approach to negotiating catch limits is based on the latest scientific advice, balanced with commitments to economic sustainability and providing opportunities for the UK fleet, consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Act.

Fisheries Minister Mark Spencer said:

We fully recognise the impact that the bycatch-only pollack fishery has had on many fishermen in the South West and today’s measures will provide support to those most affected.

Grant funding will help to support them to diversify and explore other income streams, whilst their participation in a new scientific study will not only provide additional support but help to improve our understanding of the pollack stock as we look to improve its sustainability into the future.”

Fisheries and Seafood Scheme

The Fisheries and Seafood scheme (FaSS) has relaunched for 2024, with approximately £6 million in match funding available to projects that support the development of the catching, processing and aquaculture sectors, and those enhancing the marine environment.

Administered by Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of Defra, applications from all fishermen are encouraged, but hand-and-pole line fishermen of under-10m vessels, which includes some of those affected by the zero TAC for pollack, will see their applications fast-tracked, with processing time reduced from eight weeks to four weeks.

This will help to get support to those most affected more quickly, helping them with diversification and to explore new forms of income.

New scientific study

Separately, affected fishermen will also have the opportunity to supplement this income through taking part in a new scientific study led by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).

The study will be open to all fishermen and will see collaboration between scientists and fishermen to increase understanding about the stock structure of pollack.

Fishermen will catch pollack for use in the study, receiving payments for their initial training and for their participation in the study – and would be able to sell the pollack they have caught.

Applications, along with detailed eligibility criteria, will be open as soon as possible.

Longer-term management

To improve the longer-term management of pollack, the UK will work with the EU via the Specialised Committee on Fisheries (SCF) towards an improved assessment of the stock.

The government will continue to work with industry representatives as part of this. This joint work will also help to improve our understanding of the recreational fishery, with a view to the introduction of limits where appropriate and where these are likely to be effective in reducing pressure on the stock.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 February 2024.

Water company inspections will more than quadruple as the government cracks down on poor performing companies.

• Fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account.
• Includes up to 500 additional staff for inspections, enforcement and stronger regulation over the next three years, with recruitment already underway.
• Part of a tougher regime fully funded by government and water company permits.

Water company inspections will more than quadruple as the government cracks down on poor performing companies, under plans announced today (20 February). In recent months, robust steps have been made under the Plan for Water with all 15,000 storm overflows now monitored and the cap on civil penalties for pollution removed. Last week, Defra went further in announcing that water bosses are set to be banned from receiving bonuses if a company has committed serious criminal breaches.

The Environment Agency (EA) is already ramping up inspections on water company assets, with over 930 completed this financial year. Today’s announcement goes further as water company inspections carried out by the EA will rise to 4000 a year by the end of March 2025, and then to 10,000 from April 2026. This will include an increase in unannounced inspections – strengthening oversight of water companies and reducing the reliance on water company self-monitoring, which was established in 2009.

Increased inspections and enforcement will be backed by around £55 million each year. This will be fully funded through increased grant-in-aid from Defra to the Environment Agency and additional funding from water quality permit charges levied on water companies, subject to a public consultation closing in March 2024.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

We are clear that we need to get much tougher with unannounced inspections to bring an end to the routine lawbreaking we have seen from water companies, which is what this announcement will deliver.

We are going further to quadruple the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity – allowing them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of the next financial year.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:

Last year we set out measures to transform the way we regulate the water industry to uncover non-compliance and drive better performance. Today’s announcement builds on that. Campaign groups and the public want to see the Environment Agency better resourced to do what it does best, regulate for a better environment.

Proposals to get extra boots on the ground to increase inspection visits will help further strengthen our regulation of the industry.”

With 100% of storm overflows now monitored, data-driven analytics will also help the Environment Agency map discharges against rainfall more effectively so they can quickly direct new specialist officers to any sites at risk, identify any non-compliance and take action.

The EA is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has concluded 59 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £150 million.

Today’s announcement builds on the recent improvements the government has delivered to the water environment, including:

• 100% of storm overflows in England are now monitored – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.
• Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.
• Increased protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.
• Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp ageing assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.
• Providing £10 million in support for farmers to store more water on their land through the Water Management Grants to support food production and improve water security.
• Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.

The press release issued by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 20 February 2024.

Prime Minister and Environment Secretary attend NFU Conference and announce range of measures to ensure all farmers and producers are treated fairly.

The government has today (Tuesday 20 February) underlined its commitment to deliver on its plan to support profitable farming businesses, improve food security and protect the British agriculture sector for generations to come.

Speaking at the National Farmers Union Conference in Birmingham, the Prime Minister and the Environment Secretary announced a range of measures to boost productivity and resilience in the sector, including the largest ever grant offer for farmers in the coming financial year, expected to total £427 million.

This includes doubling investment in productivity schemes, bolstering schemes such as the Improving Farming Productivity grant, which provides support for farmers to invest in automation and robotics, as well as solar installations to build on-farm energy security.

The Prime Minister also announced a new annual UK-wide Food Security Index to capture and present the data needed to monitor levels of food security, that the Farm to Fork Summit will be held annually, and a £15 million fund to help tackle food waste by enabling farmers to redistribute surplus food that cannot be used commercially at the farm gate.

This comes as new regulations will be laid in Parliament tomorrow to ensure fair and transparent contracts for dairy farmers, meaning clearer pricing terms for farmers; changes to contracts can’t be imposed on farmers without their agreement; and providing more straightforward ways for farmers to raise concerns about their contracts. Alongside this, a review is also set to launch to improve fairness in the poultry supply chain.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:

For generations, farmers have worked day in, day out to put food on our tables and are custodians of our beautiful British countryside. This is why we committed £2.4 billion to support British farming and have invested into the sector to boost agricultural productivity and resilience, increase food security and deliver for the environment, delivering on our plan.

This includes the largest ever package of competitions and grants to foster technology and innovation, bolstered by our increasingly popular farming schemes that support all types and size of farm businesses to produce food sustainably.

The government also confirmed farmers will benefit from the improved Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) from July this year, following the announcement by the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay in January.

The improved offer includes a 10% increase in the average value of agreements in SFI and Countryside Stewardship (CS); a streamlined single application process for farmers to apply for the SFI and CS Mid-Tier; and around 50 new actions that farmers can get paid for.

In addition, the government will double the Management Payment for SFI so those with existing agreements will receive up to an extra £1,000 this spring and it will be extended to Countryside Stewardship mid tier for the first year of agreements starting by March 2025. This means that the 11,000 farmers that have applied for SFI will receive that top up this spring.

At the conference, the Environment Secretary Steve Barclay will host a roundtable with regional NFU board members to discuss the opportunities and issues facing farmers around the country. The Farming Minister Mark Spencer will speak at the conference as part of a political session on Wednesday.

Farming Minister Mark Spencer said:

Maintaining food security and boosting sustainable food production is vital as we see the impacts of more extreme weather and global events, and today’s announcements provide further support for farmers to deliver this while also protecting the environment.

Almost half of farmers across the country are already signed up to our farming schemes and we continue to work closely with farmers to tweak and improve our offer so as many farmers as possible are encouraged to get involved.

Further measures announced include making up to £500,000 available to deliver projects that support mental health in the farming sector; and expanding permitted development rights to help farm businesses diversify and run profitable businesses, such as farm shops and sports venues.

Funding will also be provided to Internal Drainage Boards that protect agricultural land and rural communities from flooding, helping areas recover from recent flooding events and modernising infrastructure to lower costs for farmers and increase their resilience to climate change.