Ben Maguire MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
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.
44 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Slurry Infrastructure GrantDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what measures she is taking to support farmers with their applications to the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Scheme.
Answer: The Slurry Infrastructure Grant Scheme is supported through a range of measures provided by Defra and the Rural Payments Agency. These include cross-department working with Environment Agency (EA) colleagues to address any issues and proactively working w...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSlurry Infrastructure GrantDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129623More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many applications (a) her department has received to the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Scheme Rounds 1 and 2; (b) have been approved to progress; (c) have been submitted, and; (d) ha
Answer: As of 24 April, the Rural Payments Agency has received: 2,087 applications received (a) to the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Scheme Rounds 1 and 2 – Stage 1 1,175 have been approved (b) to progress to Stage 2 441 applications submitted (c) to the 2nd stage ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSlurry Infrastructure GrantDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she intends to launch the third round of the Slurry Infrastructure Grant Scheme.
Answer: The Slurry Infrastructure Grant first opened in 2022 and has run for two rounds. The grant supports farmers to build 6-month slurry storage and to cover stores with impermeable covers to reduce ammonia emissions. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund ...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordPlants: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126308More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including Water Hyacinth in the list of Species of Special Concern.
Answer: Water hyacinth, along with 65 other non-native species, has been risk assessed and is listed as an invasive non-native species of special concern. The risk assessment for water hyacinth can be found here: https://www.nonnativespecies.org/assets/Uploads/RA...
Answered 17 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTuna: FisheriesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 126169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to help ensure that access to bluefin tuna fishing licences is (a) increased and (b) distributed across inshore fleets, including in coastal communi
Answer: In 2026 Defra is making up to 30 licence authorisations available for commercial rod and line fishing for bluefin tuna, double the number in 2025. The fishery is accessed through an application process run by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and i...
Answered 16 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRivers: WalkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria her Department will use to evaluate proposals for the nine new propossed national river walks.
Answer: The Government continues to progress plans to deliver nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. We will identify locations for the next tranche of river walks through a competition that will be launched...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRivers: WalkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122449More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department expects to make decisions on the allocation of new national river walk routes following the planned bidding process.
Answer: The Government continues to progress plans to deliver nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. We will identify locations for the next tranche of river walks through a competition that will be launched...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordRivers: WalkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122448More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what process her Department will use to invite and assess bids for the proposed new national river walks.
Answer: The Government continues to progress plans to deliver nine new National River Walks across England, one in each region, to enhance access to nature. We will identify locations for the next tranche of river walks through a competition that will be launched...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordManure: StorageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122442More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of providing funding to support the installation of sustainable slurry systems on farms.
Answer: The Slurry Infrastructure Grant first opened in 2022 and has run for two rounds. The grant supports farmers to build 6-month slurry storage and to cover stores with impermeable covers to reduce ammonia emissions. The Farming Equipment and Technology Fund ...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: MethaneDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122441More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of slurry storage technologies on reducing agricultural methane emissions.
Answer: Defra has assessed slurry storage systems and their ability to reduce agricultural methane emissions, including retrofitted permeable and impermeable covers. These are detailed in the Carbon Budget and Growth Delivery Plan (2025). Available scientific evi...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFood and Drinks: Origin MarkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118112More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that details of (a) the geographical location of production and (b) ownership of brands is included on (i) labels and (ii) point of sale materials for
Answer: The UK aims to maintain high standards on the information that is provided on food labels. All food sold on the UK market must comply with food labelling rules, which include the requirement for the name and address of the food business operator that is r...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordBeer: Origin MarkingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a geographic indication scheme for beers traditionally brewed in a specific location.
Answer: The Government recognises the economic and cultural importance of geographical indications (GIs) and remains committed to ensuring their continued protection. The family of UK produced GIs already includes beer - Kentish Ale, Kentish Strong Ale, and Rutla...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSharp's Brewery: ClosuresDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117612More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the proposed closure of Sharp's brewery in Rock, North Cornwall on (a) jobs, (b) the local economy and (c) consumer choice.
Answer: Defra has not completed an impact assessment regarding the proposed closure of Sharp’s brewery. Molson Coors are conducting a consultation process on this proposed closure, and no further decisions will be made until this has finished. The department rema...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117187More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans adjustments to ensure parity between (a) legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements, and (b) current Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements, for th
Answer: In February last year, Defra recognised that Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates had fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). Defra invested £30 million to increase payment rates ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117186More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of payment parity between (a) legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements, and (b) current Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier agreements.
Answer: In February last year, Defra recognised that Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) payment rates had fallen behind the rates offered through other schemes including Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT). Defra invested £30 million to increase payment rates ...
Answered 11 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117185More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department is supporting farmers who cannot afford the costs of feasibility studies (e.g. PA2 for a feasibility study) which prevents them from accessing the Countryside Stewar
Answer: Payment for completion of feasibility studies can be claimed as soon as the work has been completed. The PA2 grant funds 100% of the costs of completing the study and so farmers and land managers will receive payments back for all costs incurred.
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117184More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to confirm the date from which farmers currently in legacy Higher Level Stewardship agreements will be able to exit those agreements and enter Countryside Ste
Answer: Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) customers can submit a request to end their existing agreement at any time during the calendar year, but they may need to repay any money received. Defra will work with customers whose HLS agreements will expire over the nex...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside Stewardship SchemeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 117183More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether underspend in the current financial year’s Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier budget will be (a) protected, and (b) carried forward into next year’s allocation.
Answer: Defra expects to increase both the numbers of farmers and land managers coming into the scheme and related spend on the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme over the course of the coming year. The scale of ambition for the number of agreements in th...
Answered 10 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSea Bass: Fishing CatchesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104379More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Marine Management Organisation’s statutory guidance document entitled Variation issued: Thursday 01 January 2026, updated on December 29th, 2025, whether her Depa
Answer: No impact assessments have been produced because catch limits are agreed through UK/EU annual negotiations and limits cover all permitted gears at a coastal state level, as well as across the stock’s natural range.
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSea Bass: Fishing CatchesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104067More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on the number of boats that caught over 6.8t of bass in 2025.
Answer: The Marine Management Organisation, who hold catch data, have confirmed three UK vessels caught over 6.8t of bass in 2025.
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSea Bass: Fishing CatchesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 7 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104066More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the 2026 bass catch limits on the South West’s inshore fishing fleet.
Answer: Sustainable catch limits for European Seabass are set at the UK level through UK/EU annual negotiations within the scientific advice provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). No region-specific assessments are carried ou...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSeals: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102337More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and what assessment her Department has made of the potential impacts of the decision to reject JNCC's recommendations on seals' ability to rest undisturbed at haul out sites, following
Answer: Our grey and harbour seals face a range of threats and pressures, including potential impacts from disturbance at haul out sites. However, the best available evidence indicates that the effects of disturbance can be variable and are highly site specific a...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordWildlife: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 102336More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence her Department considered in deciding to reject the proposed amendments to the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, recommended following JNCC's Seventh Quinquennial Review
Answer: Through the seventh quinquennial review, JNCC and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies provided independent, science-based recommendations on species conservation. In considering that advice Defra took a broader perspective, including reflecting exist...
Answered 9 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Treatment: CamelfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97450More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will consider the potential merits of a financial (a) redress or (b) scheme, for those affected by the Lowermoor Water Poisoning incident.
Answer: The Lowermoor incident has previously been investigated, and the most recent report by the Committee on Toxicity was published in 2013. Subsequent legislative changes have created an independent regulator for drinking water quality, which must, by law, be...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Treatment: CamelfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97434More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will launch an independent public inquiry into the Lowermoor Water Poisoning with scope to cover (a) the role water privatisation played in the events, (b) the handli
Answer: The Lowermoor incident has previously been investigated, and the most recent report by the Committee on Toxicity was published in 2013. Subsequent legislative changes have created an independent regulator for drinking water quality, which must, by law, be...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
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4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
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