Victoria Collins 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.
31 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Rivers: SewageDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 27 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 63419More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of excess sewage sludge on river pollution in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: Sewage sludge is a by-product of the wastewater treatment process which can be spread on fields as a fertiliser. Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (SUiAR) supported by the Sewage Sludge Code of Practice provide environmental and health protecti...
Answered 7 Jul 2025
Original Parliament recordPer- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61416More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to establish a national chemicals regulator to improve the (a) monitoring and (b) management of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination.
Answer: Defra and the Scottish and Welsh Governments work closely with regulators and government agencies to prioritise issues for regulatory action in the UK relating to chemicals. We are working across government to help us assess levels of per- and polyfluoroa...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordDrinking Water: Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl SubstancesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 19 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 61415More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to review the current regulatory limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
Answer: The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has provided guidance on PFAS to water companies since 2007; updated in August 2024, and a consolidated version was published in March 2025. In February 2025, the DWI published a report from the advisory group of drin...
Answered 27 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordWater Treatment: River VerDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 5 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 57821More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure that planned upgrades to Markyate Sewage Treatment Works go ahead, in the context of Thames Water’s financial position and (b) to prev
Answer: We expect the company to meet their statutory and regulatory obligations. Thames Water’s current Asset Management Plan includes commitments to both maintain Markyate Wastewater Treatment Works and enhance its performance. Capital maintenance includes a Gr...
Answered 11 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnergy Performance Certificates: Business PremisesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 2 Jun 2025AnsweredUIN 56491More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that commercial properties have reached the minimum requirement of EPC Grade B by 2030.
Answer: The Government consulted on strengthening the non-domestic, which includes commercial properties, Private Rented Sector Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards to EPC C by 1 April 2027, and EPC B by 1 April 2030. We are currently reviewing the policy design, ...
Answered 13 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: Advisory ServicesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55995More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to help consolidate agricultural advice services; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of doing so on the (a) consistency and (b) coor
Answer: We are working across Defra to continue to improve the advice services on offer to farmers, building on existing broad services such as the Farming Advice Service and Catchment Sensitive Farming. We will aim to create greater alignment across services. We...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55937More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of taking legislative steps to prohibit the routine culling of male chicks.
Answer: The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals at the time of killing, including male chicks from the egg production sector. Permitted killing methods for chicks, such as gas stunning and maceration, are based on scientific...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordEnvironment Protection: HertfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55936More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help tackle environmental harm in (a) Harpenden and Berkhamsted constituency and (b) Hertfordshire.
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) advises and regulates businesses across the energy, agriculture, and waste sectors; they are the environmental regulator for water companies; they prosecute and take action against those who pollute the environment and blight o...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55935More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the Ban Hatch and Dispatch campaign.
Answer: The legislation sets out strict requirements to protect the welfare of animals at the time of killing, including male chicks from the egg production sector. Permitted killing methods for chicks, such as gas stunning and maceration, are based on scientific...
Answered 6 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 May 2025AnsweredUIN 55934More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing in-ovo sexing technologies within UK hatcheries.
Answer: We are firmly committed to maintaining and improving animal welfare and want to work closely with the farming sector to deliver high standards. In its 2024 ‘Opinion on alternatives to culling newly hatched chicks in the egg and poultry industries’, the An...
Answered 9 Jun 2025
Original Parliament recordMembers: CorrespondenceDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 16 May 2025AnsweredUIN 52944More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Harpenden and Berkhamsted to the Environment Agency on Markyate Sewage Works of 28 March 2025.
Answer: A reply to the hon. Member is being prepared by the Environment Agency and will be issued as soon as possible.
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate and Nature BillDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 May 2025AnsweredUIN 51050More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Climate and Nature Bill.
Answer: This Government is absolutely committed to tackling the climate and nature crises and has agreed steps to take forward the spirit and substance of the Climate and Nature Bill with the Bill’s Sponsors. There is already a well-developed legislative framewor...
Answered 22 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: SubsidiesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49614More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will take steps to adapt farming subsidy schemes to incentivise the (a) housing of all farmed animals in woodland and (b) planting of woodland in permanent pasture; a
Answer: Businesses must notify the competent authorities in advance of a consignment arriving in GB when it contains High risk or Medium A risk plants and plant products as they are subject to phytosanitary controls. Upon completion of the notification an initial...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: ForestryDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49613More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will extend agroforestry funding to (a) include multiple species and (b) increase tree planting density to help provide an appropriate habitat for (i) pigs and (ii) c
Answer: Our in-field agroforestry offers under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes allow flexibility for land managers to decide on tree species and densities that suit their objectives, to realise the multiple benefits that trees provide in the farmi...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordExport Health Certificates: Fees and ChargesDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49603More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a cap on the fees charged by veterinary practices for issuing Animal Health Certificates.
Answer: All fees set by veterinary surgeons or veterinary practices are a private matter between individual practices and their clients. Neither the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the UK regulator of the veterinary profession, nor Defra intervene in...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordClimate ChangeDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46389More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the use of nature-based solutions to climate change.
Answer: Defra recognises the critical benefits nature-based solutions can provide for tackling climate change and averting its impacts – delivering multiple benefits for climate, biodiversity, and people. Nature’s recovery is one of the five top priorities for th...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFarms: FloodsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46385More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to support farmers affected by flooding.
Answer: Defra’s Farming Recovery Fund (FRF) scheme has paid out over £59.1 million to over 12,500 farm businesses affected by flooding and extreme wet weather during the period October 2023 to March 2024. On 31st March 2025 the government announced an additional ...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers and Water: Planning PermissionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a) Thames Water and (b) other water companies provide (i) accurate and (ii) locally verified assessments of (A) wastewater and (B) draina
Answer: As set out in Paragraph 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastr...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordSewers and Water: Planning PermissionDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 17 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure wastewater capacity assessments by (a) Thames water and (b) other water companies account for local environmental pressures.
Answer: As set out in Paragraph 7 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development, including the provision of homes, commercial development and supporting infrastr...
Answered 28 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordHoney: StandardsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 8 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 45296More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to (a) improve testing methods, (b) strengthen labelling regulations and (c) help tackle honey adulteration in other ways.
Answer: Defra carries out scientific research in partnership with the Food Standards Agency to help improve testing methods help address honey adulteration. The Honey (England) Regulations 2015 lay down detailed specifications which honey must comply with regardi...
Answered 25 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordRivers: HertfordshireDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 44283More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the bathing standard in the (a) River Ver and (b) River Lea.
Answer: The Government is committed to improving the quality of bathing water at designated sites around the country, as an important contributor to many people’s mental and physical health. However, as these two sites are not designated bathing waters they are n...
Answered 11 Apr 2025
Original Parliament recordFlood ControlDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 22 Jan 2025AnsweredUIN 25891More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department is taking steps to (a) improve the (i) communication and (ii) public awareness of flooding risks and (b) integrate the risk know-how framework into its (A) flood
Answer: The Environment Agency (EA) has responsibilities to assess the risk of emergencies such as flooding. This includes putting in place emergency plans and preparations for the management of flooding, alongside arrangements to warn, inform and advise during a...
Answered 30 Jan 2025
Original Parliament recordHunting: National ParksDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16007More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 5849 on Hunting: National Parks, what was the outcome of the initial discussions held with officials from other Departments on tra
Answer: This is a devolved matter with regard to Scotland and Northern Ireland; hunting with dogs is a reserved matter with respect to Wales and therefore, the information provided relates to England and Wales only. These discussions brought together officials wi...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordDogs: Import ControlsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 25 Nov 2024AnsweredUIN 16006More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for banning the import of dogs with cropped ears.
Answer: The Government recently announced its support for the Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill, a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Dr Danny Chambers MP. The Bill will give the Government powers to prevent the supply of low-welfare pets to ...
Answered 2 Dec 2024
Original Parliament recordTrappingDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 23 Oct 2024AnsweredUIN 10820More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his planned timetable is for banning the use of snare traps.
Answer: This is a devolved matter, and the information provided therefore relates to England only. The Government will introduce the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation. As outlined in our manifesto, we will bring an end to the use of snar...
Answered 28 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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