Charlie Dewhirst MP: written questions
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026
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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.
43 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Ofwat: EqualityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15570More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2026 to Question 9341 on Ofwat: Equality, for what reason Ofwat was not requested to report EDI spending details prior to that reporting period.
Answer: Defra and its arm’s-length bodies did not begin reporting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure until 2025/26, after internal processes for collecting and reporting this information had been established. As a result, Defra did not ask Ofwat ...
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWater Companies: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15569More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 17 of the Water White Paper of January 2026, whether the integrated water regulator will have the same budget as the Environment Agency, Natural England, Ofwat a
Answer: We are considering the detail of the funding arrangements that will be needed. In doing so, we will ensure that the new regulator will have the funds to deliver its responsibilities in full, balancing the interests of customers, investors and the environm...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: MetersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15568More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether householders not on social tariffs can require that the smart element of their smart water meter is deinstalled if they decline to participate in a (a) progressive water meteri
Answer: Currently, individual water companies decide the best way to manage water demand issues, including their approach to metering. However, to inform their decisions, Defra issues guiding principles that set out our priorities, including our expectations on w...
Answered 8 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: MarketingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15567More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department has spent on branded goods and merchandise since 24 April 2025; on what items; and at what cost.
Answer: The information could only be provided by incurring disproportionate costs.
Answered 14 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordOfwat: EqualityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 22 June 2026, to Question 9341, on Ofwat: Equality, if she will provide a breakdown of the £4,200 expenditure of external EDI expenditure in 2025-26, includin
Answer: Below is the information sent to the Cabinet Office on EDI expenditure for 2025/26. This was sent to the Cabinet Office on 9 April. Notification of External EDI ExpenditureDepartmentOfwatDepartmental Business UnitOfwatAmount of expenditure£4,200Date expe...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: LabellingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 125703, on Food: Labelling, whether the SPS agreement will lead to foods other than fruit jams, jellies & marmalades being re
Answer: The Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement is still being negotiated and the final list of legislation in scope remains subject to negotiations. This Government has begun publishing sector specific information to help businesses get ready. As set out ...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordFood: InsectsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 1 Jul 2026AnsweredUIN 15236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the "Thematic report on emerging food innovations in the UK", published by the Food Standards Agency on 13 March 2026, whether it is the policy of HM Government to pr
Answer: The Government currently has no plans to promote eating insects. The ‘Thematic report on emerging food innovations in the UK’ is one of the resources published by the FSA and FSS on the Innovative Food Guidance Hub. The report provides a forward look of e...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordAngling: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14619More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what savings her Department has made to communications and marketing spending by cancelling the Environment Agency Fishing Licence Marketing Campaign since July 2024.
Answer: Following a Government wide review of campaigns with over 100k spend, it was communicated in September 2024 that the EA fishing licence campaign would not continue in 25/26. At this point the campaign's marketing budget for 24/25 (300k) had already been u...
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Social MediaDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14618More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much his Department has spent on social influencers directly and via contractors since 4 July 2024.
Answer: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has not spent any money on social influencers directly or via contractors since 4 July 2024.
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordCountryside: Ethnic GroupsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14617More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether guidance has been given to National Park Authorities on access to the countryside by ethnic minorities.
Answer: The Government recognises that currently access to nature is unequal, where people living in more deprived areas, ethnic minorities and younger people are more likely to live in areas with less access to green space. The Government supports the work Prote...
Answered 6 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: SecondmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 14616More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which organisations have (a) had departmental Civil Servants seconded to them and (b) seconded organisational staff to her Department since July 2024.
Answer: Since July 2024, a total of 45 organisations had Civil Servants seconded to them from Defra whilst in the same period, Defra received secondees from a total of 22 organisations.
Answered 9 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies with that of the EU on investment decisions in the UK
Answer: This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12925More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her European counterparts on the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies in support of growth and investment in the agri-food
Answer: This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordGenetically Modified Organisms: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 12924More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to maintain the UK's independent regulatory framework for precision bred organisms.
Answer: This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...
Answered 1 Jul 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: Livestock IndustryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7760More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessments her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pig) Regulations 2025 in preventing abuse by processors.
Answer: The Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations (FDOP) are the result of extensive consultation with farmers, producer groups and the wider industry. They have applied to any new contracts since August 2025 and will come into force fully (for all contract...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordPigs: Livestock IndustryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 7758More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he had with representatives of the pig industry on market conditions in the sector.
Answer: Ministers meet with representatives of the pig industry as part of wider engagement with the farming industry. Defra officials regularly meet with the pig industry and its representatives and will continue to closely monitor the performance of the sector,...
Answered 15 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordOfwat: EqualityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129028More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2026 to Question 107385 on Ofwat: Equality, whether Ofwat intends to amend its policy approach; and if she will ask Ofwat to use the Equality Act t
Answer: As previously stated, Ofwat's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy makes reference to "gender" largely in relation to the outcomes of, and insight from, statutory Gender Pay Gap reporting. Ofwat has confirmed that it will amend its EDI...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129017More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her planned timetable is for steps following the recent consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain.
Answer: Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129015More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if her Department will respond to the consultation entitled F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown before Whitsun recess.
Answer: Defra is working at pace with the aim of providing more information to industry on the proposed HFC phasedown reform in due course.
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123520More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what consideration her Department has given to the availability of refrigerant as part of the review of responses to the F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown
Answer: Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The c...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordFluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 24 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123519More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on the consultation on F gas Regulation in Great Britain: Reform of the HFC phasedown.
Answer: Defra and DESNZ worked together closely on the proposal set out in the HFC phasedown consultation and continue to do so. This is why the proposal reflects plans for the rollout of heat pumps. Responses to the consultation are still being considered. The c...
Answered 26 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordControlled Burning: LicensingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 Mar 2026WithdrawnUIN 121074More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences for winter burns of vegetation in England have been granted by her Department in the last year; and whether she has made an assessment of the potential implications f
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordControlled Burning: ScotlandDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many licences for winter burns of vegetation in England have been granted by Defra in the last year; and if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her polici
Answer: No Heather and Grass Burning Licences have yet been granted in the 2025-2026 burning season. Whilst a number of the applications we have received have been determined, others are still being processed. Both Heather and Grass Burning, and wildfire are devo...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHempDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department intends to take steps to support the uptake of industrial hemp farming, in the context of challenges around licensing and investment in the sector.
Answer: Defra recognises the valuable addition industrial hemp can provide to farmers when planning their crop rotation. The responsibility for the regulation of industrial hemp and licencing for cannabis cultivation in the UK lies with the Home Office. After fur...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPeatlands: Controlled BurningDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 115270More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the peer review for the Natural England Evidence Review with reference NEER155.
Answer: The redactions made to Natural England’s response to EIR2026/00223, were applied because the material contained third-party personal data, which is exempt from disclosure under the Environmental Information Regulations. In addition, some material was outs...
Answered 3 Mar 2026
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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