Alec Shelbrooke MP: written questions
4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025
How these years work
Our reporting years run from 4 July to 3 July, starting with the 2024 general election. They are not official parliamentary sessions. Office costs keep IPSA’s April–March financial years. Records may cover only part of a year; a missing record does not mean no work was done.
Read what this MP said, asked and contributed in Parliament.
24 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Agriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2025 to Question 52615 on Agriculture: Finance, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of not including goats in the eligibility criteri
Answer: The Animal Health and Welfare grant scheme is part of the broader Animal Health and Welfare Pathway (the Pathway), which remains focused on the most commonly farmed species: pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, laying hens, broiler chickens and sheep. This appr...
Answered 10 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: TourismDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54734More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to tackle littering in tourist hotspots; and how these steps are tailored to the influx of visitors during peak seasons.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for keeping public land clear of litter and refuse. The standards that they are expected to meet are set out in the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, which is available at: Litter and refuse: code of practice - GOV.UK. ...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: EnforcementDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help improve the enforcement of littering.
Answer: Local councils are responsible for taking enforcement action against littering. They can prosecute those suspected of littering which could result in a criminal record and a fine of up to £2500. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordLitter: Community DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 54732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to support community groups to (a) tackle littering and (b) promote environmental cleanliness.
Answer: The Government is proud to support and endorse national clean-up initiatives such as the Great British Spring Clean, and the Great British Beach Clean, and we will continue to use our influence to encourage as many people and businesses as possible to par...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: FinanceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 15 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52615More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will include goat farmers in the eligibility criteria for the Animal Health and Welfare grant in the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025.
Answer: Guidance for grants under the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund 2025 was published on 7 May ahead of opening to applications on 29 May. These grants are available to keepers of pigs, dairy cows, beef cattle, laying chickens, broilers and sheep.
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51352More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the economic impact of avian influenza on poultry producers in North Yorkshire since 2022.
Answer: This Government is committed to working closely with industry to anticipate the potential social and economic risk from avian influenza, so that response strategies are as effective as possible. The joint Government and industry avian influenza taskforce ...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51351More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support (a) restocking and (b) business continuity for poultry farmers in North Yorkshire impacted by bird flu restrictions.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of avian influenza controls including Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) works in conjunction with the Association of Chief Trading Standards Off...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAvian Influenza: North YorkshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51350More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide targeted funding for poultry farmers in North Yorkshire to improve on-farm biosecurity infrastructure in the context of avian influenza.
Answer: In September 2024 laying hen and pullet keepers could apply for funding to undertake large infrastructure projects to deliver excellent levels of health and welfare through the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant, this included funding for fea...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: BusinessesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51349More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with North Yorkshire Council on (a) coordination of local containment zones and (b) compensation access for affected poultry businesses.
Answer: Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of avian influenza controls including Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) measures. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) works in conjunction with the Association of Chief Trading Standards Off...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51348More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what is the minimum notice period his Department must give to end agreements under the current terms of the Sustainable Farming Initiative.
Answer: Termination of agreements is covered by condition 15 of the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2024 terms and conditions. In some specific circumstances, agreements can be terminated by the department with immediate effect, for example if a change of circumsta...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSustainable Farming IncentiveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51347More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the reformed Sustainable Farming Initiative offer will limit the proportion of land holding eligible for submission.
Answer: The future Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) offer will build on what has made SFI effective so far. Defra is working closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to design a future SFI offer that fairly and responsibly directs funding. Further detail...
Answered 21 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign Investment in UKDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51346More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with international investors on the potential impact of extended producer responsibility on the attractiveness of the UK as an investment destination.
Answer: As part of the Government’s broader Collection and Packaging Reforms Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging will provide regulatory certainty necessary to support investment in recycling and reprocessing infrastructure across the UK and support ...
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordIncinerators: Health HazardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential risk of incinerators to public health.
Answer: In England, waste incinerators cannot operate unless issued with an environmental permit by the Environment Agency (EA). The EA assesses the emissions from new incinerators as part of its permitting process and consults the UK Health Security Agency (UKHS...
Answered 28 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordWaste: CrimeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Dec 2024AnsweredUIN 17085More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to help tackle (a) illegal landfill sites and (b) waste crime.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has a range of powers to tackle waste crime and take enforcement action. These powers, coupled with those of their partners ensure that it can confront criminals. Over the last 3 years the EA has stopped more than 1500 illegal ...
Answered 10 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordImport ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) effectiveness of the new Border Target Operating Model and (b) threat of its use as a route to illegally import products of animal or
Answer: Defra has made additional funding of £1.9 million available to Dover District Council for the Port Health Authority, for the remainder of this financial year (2024 to 2025), to support Border Force to conduct safeguarding checks on the illegal import of p...
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAfrican Swine Fever: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release of 26 September 2024 entitled Immediate measures to step up safeguards against African swine fever from Europe, what additional resourc
Answer: Defra continues to monitor and review the impact of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), including the Border Control Post at Sevington. We are working closely with industry, trade partners and enforcement agencies to minimise disruption and costs to...
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAfrican Swine Fever: Disease ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release of 26 September 2024 entitled Immediate measures to step up safeguards against African swine fever from Europe, whether his Department
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 12666 on 5 December 2024.
Answered 6 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAfrican Swine FeverDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 28 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16730More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the (a) likelihood of an African Swine Fever outbreak in the UK and (b) potential economic impact of such an outbreak.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Epping Forest on 28 October 2024, to Question 10798.
Answered 4 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Land UseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 15744More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question 12061 on Agriculture: Land Use, if he will commission research into the potential impact of solar farms on soil (a) carbon storag
Answer: Defra has no current plans to undertake research on the specific impact of solar farms on soil properties. We have undertaken an evidence review evaluating opportunities for agrivoltaic systems in England and Wales. Impacts on soil were not considered.
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Land UseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 31 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 12061More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of solar farms on soil (a) carbon storage, (b) structure and (c) biodiversity.
Answer: No assessment has been made of the potential impact of solar farms on soil. When considering development proposals that affect agricultural land and soils, the Government encourages developers and local planning authorities to refer to relevant Government...
Answered 22 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordImport ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10982More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consistency of phytosanitary certificate checks at the UK Border.
Answer: Checks are handled by trained staff working to standard operating procedures, ensuring inspections are undertaken safely and efficiently. The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s plant health import inspection process is accredited to the ISO 17020 Inspection...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10981More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what body will administer the non-household packaging elements of the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme; and when he plans to publish details of that body.
Answer: Obligations on non-household packaging elements of the upcoming Extended Producer Responsibility scheme will continue to be enforced by the Environment Agency in England and the equivalent regulators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as these oblig...
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10980More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost of the introduction of extended producer responsibility fees to businesses.
Answer: The Department’s impact assessment published online here has considered the impacts on businesses from the introduction of extended producer responsibility for packaging (pEPR).
Answered 1 Nov 2024
Original Parliament recordPackaging: RecyclingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10979More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what level extended producer responsibility fees will be set at.
Answer: In August 2024, we released the first set of illustrative packaging extended producer responsibility base fees covering the following eight packaging materials: aluminium, fibre-based composite materials, glass, paper or board, plastic, steel, wood and ot...
Answered 31 Oct 2024
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2024–3 Jul 2025. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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