Chris Hinchliff 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.
30 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Fluorinated Gases: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 9267More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) accelerate the reform of the F-Gas Regulation to phase down hydrofluorocarbons and (b) publish a National Cooling Action Plan.
Answer: Between 5 November and 17 December 2025, Defra consulted on proposals to reform the phasedown of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the F-gas Regulation. Following consideration of the 137 responses received, Defra confirmed on 15 May 2026 that further work ...
Answered 22 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2626More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of creating a High Ecological Status target for the highest-quality waterbodies in England, as part of upcoming reforms to Water
Answer: We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small ...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordWater: RegulationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 May 2026AnsweredUIN 2624More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to incorporate (a) ponds, (b) small lakes, (c) headwater streams and (d) other small waters into the Water Framework Directive as part of ongoing reforms to the regul
Answer: We committed in the recently published Water White Paper to explore setting new ambitious targets for the water environment. As part of these explorations, we are considering a wide range of suggestions from stakeholders, including calls to monitor small ...
Answered 27 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBirds: Environmental Land Management SchemesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129926More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to ensure that Environmental Land Management schemes include funding for (a) integrated, evidence-based management of predation pressure and (b) specialist far
Answer: Support for specific species is primarily delivered via Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier where land managers can benefit from 1:1 advice and support from Natural England Advisers. In addition to the payments for the correct land management for Curlew, ...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTree Preservation OrdersDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128947More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the England Tree Action Plan will review and improve the scope and effectiveness of Tree Preservation Orders.
Answer: The Government committed in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to publish a new Trees Action Plan for England in 2026. The Trees Action Plan will set out how the Government will invest in tree planting and the forestry sector to achieve our 2030 inte...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTrees: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128946More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the England Tree Action Plan will include a new legal protection and designation system for (a) important and (b) heritage trees.
Answer: The Government committed in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 to publish a new Trees Action Plan for England in 2026. The Trees Action Plan will set out how the Government will invest in tree planting and the forestry sector to achieve our 2030 inte...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordTrees: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128945More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if a Special Representative for important trees will be appointed to champion them at a political level, as recommended in the Government-sponsored Tree Council report, published in 20
Answer: The Defra-funded report led by the Tree Council and Forest Research provides a range of recommendations for improving the protection and stewardship of ‘important’ trees. The Government is carefully considering its recommendations, including their feasibi...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSites of Special Scientific Interest: AshfordDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on which date was Natural England first notified of organised criminal activity in Hoads Wood Special Site of Scientific Interest.
Answer: Natural England (NE) does not hold a record of a specific date on which it was first notified of organised criminal activity at Hoads Wood SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest. NE visited the site in February 2020 with Ashford Borough Council and Kent...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordSites of Special Scientific Interest: AccessDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128943More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2026 to question 106695, what discussions she has had Natural England on restricting access to Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including at H
Answer: The Environment Agency is continuing to temporarily restrict vehicular access to Hoads Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and, alongside Kent Police, is leading the criminal investigation into the illegal dumping of waste. The primary legal f...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordFly-tipping: ForestsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 128942More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many instances of fly tipping have been recorded on the public forest estate in each of the last 10 years.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton on 10 April 2026, PQ UIN 125371.
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: Departmental CoordinationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 21 Apr 2026Awaiting answerUIN 128941More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to question UIN 123866, if he will provide an update on the delivery of the Government's cross-department nature strategy.
Answer: No published answer in this record yet.
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: Departmental CoordinationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 123866More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to question 97320, when her Department will publish its cross-government nature strategy; and for what reason it was not published in March a
Answer: The cross‑government nature strategy is currently undergoing final cross‑government clearance, in line with standard collective agreement processes. Publication in March was dependent on the completion of this process. The Department now expects to publis...
Answered 13 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Land UseDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 18 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122081More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her department expects to be able to publish the fully updated data and mapping for Agricultural Land Classifications in England.
Answer: A new predictive Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) map for England has been created to replace the existing 1960s provisional ALC map. The 1960s provisional ALC map does not show ALC Grade 3 subdivision into subgrade 3a and 3b and reflects a supersed...
Answered 25 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Act 2021Department for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908381More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to meet the nature targets set out in the Environment Act 2021.
Answer: The Government is clear that nature and development can go hand in hand.The Land Use Framework shows we have enough land to achieve our priorities if we make better decisions about how we use it. We can restore nature and meet our housing and clean energ...
Answered 19 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: National SecurityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114765More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether there is a delay in publishing the global ecosystem assessment.
Answer: The Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security was published on GOV.UK on 20 January. This assessment forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning and aligns with the UK’s National Securi...
Answered 25 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordRainforests: Food SupplyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114764More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has completed the global ecosystem assessment of the potential impact of tropical rainforest loss on food security and food prices in the UK.
Answer: The Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security was published on GOV.UK on 20 January. The Assessment forms part of wider efforts to strengthen resilience to chronic environmental risks, alongside the N...
Answered 26 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordBiodiversityDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 20 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 114715More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, published by her Department on 20 January, 20
Answer: The Nature security assessment forms part of routine cross-government resilience planning. It complements the UK’s National Security Strategy, National Risk Register and Chronic Risk Analysis. Nature underpins our security, prosperity, and resilience. Cli...
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordHuntingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 12 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 113291More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the attendance of terrier handlers at trail hunting events with dogs and tools capable of digging out fox
Answer: This Government is committed to enacting a ban on trail hunting, in line with its manifesto commitment. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and Defra intends to consult this year on how to deliver a ban.
Answered 2 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: ContaminationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112428More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential costs to the Treasury of remediating high-risk PFAS contamination sites where the polluter pays principle cannot be appli
Answer: The Environment Agency has undertaken preliminary appraisal of potential PFAS remediation costs. A 2023 report indicates remediation could be significant at some legacy sites, though actual costs would depend on site specific factors. The polluter pays pr...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 112427More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential long-term costs to the NHS of the public's exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
Answer: The Government published a PFAS Plan on 3 February 2026, which sets out our approach towards protecting human health and the environment from risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. Our approach is science-based and evidenc...
Answered 24 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: ProsecutionsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 11 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 906976More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking with the Crown Prosecution Service to prosecute environmental crimes.
Answer: Environmental crimes and prosecutions are generally undertaken by the Environment Agency (EA) as the Environmental Regulator and not by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS does prosecute some particular environmental crimes, for the police's Nati...
Answered 18 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Nature ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97581More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consider establishing a duty on all government departments to consider nature recovery in their work.
Answer: Under the Environment Act 2021, the existing duty in s40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 was strengthened. This now requires that all Government departments must consider the action they can take, consistent with the exercise of ...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordNature Conservation: Departmental CoordinationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97320More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will publish a cross-government nature strategy, including requiring all departments to have a duty to consider nature.
Answer: Defra plans to publish the Cross Government Nature Strategy (CGNS) in March 2026. Under the Environment Act 2021, the Biodiversity Duty established in s40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 was strengthened. This requires all govern...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordBadgers: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97313More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2025 to 94315, whether planned changes to the Protection of Badgers Act would permit the killing of badgers solely for development purposes.
Answer: The changes to the Protection of Badgers Act (PoBA) effected by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would permit licences for the purpose of preserving public health or safety or for reasons of overriding public interest, to kill or take badgers, or to i...
Answered 10 Dec 2025
Original Parliament recordCurlews: ConservationDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 3 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97080More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has plans to implement the RSPB's Action Plan for Curlew published April 2025.
Answer: This Government is committed to recovering our threatened native species, such as curlew, and we welcome the UK Curlew Action Plan which sets out actions which will drive recovery of the species in the UK. Defra officials are carefully considering the Pla...
Answered 11 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Explore activity by topic or department
Written questions by answering department
4 Jul 2025–3 Jul 2026. One record per UIN and tabled date; the named department is not a measure of answer quality.
View as listWhat this shows and doesn't show
Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →