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Written question asked by Callum Anderson (Labour) on Friday, 9 October 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It was answered by Emma Hardy (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 October 2026 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Agriculture: Water Supply

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential barriers faced by farmers in Buckinghamshire seeking to invest in on-farm water storage in order to improve resilience to drought and flooding.

Answer

Defra has assessed barriers to investment in on-farm water storage across England, including Buckinghamshire. These include high project costs, complex and uncertain planning and approvals, and uncertainty over whether sufficient water will be available to fill reservoirs.

The Government is taking action. The package announced by the Prime Minister in August included up to £15 million for on-farm reservoirs, alongside work to reduce unnecessary barriers and update planning guidance. We are working with the farming sector to strengthen on-farm water resilience and ensure appropriate planning and abstraction licensing arrangements are in place, while supporting investment and management of water resources.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
31042
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Agriculture Finance Buckinghamshire Water supply
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk