As I have already said, when the new SFI offer opens, it will be targeted at small farms. It is important that we look at how we support all farmers to ensure that they can support us with our aims on food stability and security.

As I have already said, when the new SFI offer opens, it will be targeted at small farms. It is important that we look at how we support all farmers to ensure that they can support us with our aims on food stability and security.

My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that the arbitrary cap on SFI, which was mentioned by the noble Lord opposite, militates against economies of scale and driving the farm productivity and profitability that the nation needs and the land use framework requires?

My Lords, does the Minister appreciate that the arbitrary cap on SFI, which was mentioned by the noble Lord opposite, militates against economies of scale and driving the farm productivity and profitability that the nation needs and the land use framework requires?

The most important things we can do to move forward on farm profitability and to support farms are, first, to listen to them and, secondly, to look at what the noble Baroness, Lady Batters, says in her report. It is an extremely impressive, comprehensive report on how we improve farm profitability. We should listen to someone with her expertise and experience on how we move forward to increase farm profitability.

The most important things we can do to move forward on farm profitability and to support farms are, first, to listen to them and, secondly, to look at what the noble Baroness, Lady Batters, says in her report. It is an extremely impressive, comprehensive report on how we improve farm profitability. We should listen to someone with her expertise and experience on how we move forward to increase farm profitability.

Can the Minister say whether the SFI will provide support for on-farm reservoir projects aimed at mitigating environmental impacts from drought at the catchment scale?

Can the Minister say whether the SFI will provide support for on-farm reservoir projects aimed at mitigating environmental impacts from drought at the catchment scale?

The SFI26 offer has 71 separate actions, of which 35 are designed to support flood and drought resilience. It is incredibly important that we recognise the huge damage that drought can cause to our farmers. The new SFI offer, in looking very carefully at both flooding and drought, recognises the long-term implications of climate change for our farms and food production, which is important as we move forward.

The SFI26 offer has 71 separate actions, of which 35 are designed to support flood and drought resilience. It is incredibly important that we recognise the huge damage that drought can cause to our farmers. The new SFI offer, in looking very carefully at both flooding and drought, recognises the long-term implications of climate change for our farms and food production, which is important as we move forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of surplus water availability during periods of expected drought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of surplus water availability during periods of expected drought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans does the UK Government have to support overseas states experiencing severe droughts and difficulty in accessing water.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans does the UK Government have to support overseas states experiencing severe droughts and difficulty in accessing water.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of peatland protection on (a) flood resilience and (b) drought mitigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of peatland protection on (a) flood resilience and (b) drought mitigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot during the Oral Statement of 21 January 2026 on Water White Paper, Official Report column 347, if he will hold discussions with the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his oral contribution in response to the hon. Member for Newton Abbot during the Oral Statement of 21 January 2026 on Water White Paper, Official Report column 347, if he will hold discussions with the...

To ask His Majesty’s Government what evaluation they have made of sustainable water management solutions to address flooding events and protracted droughts in Yorkshire.

To ask His Majesty’s Government what evaluation they have made of sustainable water management solutions to address flooding events and protracted droughts in Yorkshire.

My Lords, this Government are committed to supporting more sustainable water management, both locally and nationally. Specifically in Yorkshire, we are working with the Connected by Water partnership, which is looking at ways to manage water more sustainably to reduce flood risk and drought. A key part is the integrated floodwater management plan, which encourages sustainable drainage systems in new developments and collecting and reusing rainwater—and that includes treated wastewater—in order to reduce demand on water resources.

My Lords, this Government are committed to supporting more sustainable water management, both locally and nationally. Specifically in Yorkshire, we are working with the Connected by Water partnership, which is looking at ways to manage water more sustainably to reduce flood risk and drought. A key part is the integrated floodwater management plan, which encourages sustainable drainage systems in new developments and collecting and reusing rainwater—and that includes treated wastewater—in order to reduce demand on water resources.

I thank the Minister for her response. Noble Lords will be aware of the increased frequency and severity of flood events across the UK in recent years. Communities I serve in South Yorkshire are up to one-third more likely to experience flooding than the national average. Public First estimated last year that every pound spent on flood prevention saves £8 of costs in flood damage. So I warmly welcome the Government’s recent water White Paper, not least the section on infrastructure planning and development. I ask the Minister, however, what plans she and her colleagues across government have to include flood resilience measures in the Future Homes Standard.

I thank the Minister for her response. Noble Lords will be aware of the increased frequency and severity of flood events across the UK in recent years. Communities I serve in South Yorkshire are up to one-third more likely to experience flooding than the national average. Public First estimated last year that every pound spent on flood prevention saves £8 of costs in flood damage. So I warmly welcome the Government’s recent water White Paper, not least the section on infrastructure planning and development. I ask the Minister, however, what plans she and her colleagues across government have to include flood resilience measures in the Future Homes Standard.

Protecting homes is clearly very important. The national assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk, published in January last year, shows that around 6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. With climate change, we believe that this could increase to 8 million. So this is a really important point, and I assure the right reverend Prelate that it is a government priority. If we are going to solve these problems, this is about not just Defra but us working with the MHCLG and more broadly across government. We are putting forward the largest flood and coastal erosion programme in history, with £2.65 billion to better protect properties by March this year. We have started completing those schemes, and we will keep investing in this. It is a priority.

Protecting homes is clearly very important. The national assessment of flood and coastal erosion risk, published in January last year, shows that around 6.3 million properties in England are at risk of flooding. With climate change, we believe that this could increase to 8 million. So this is a really important point, and I assure the right reverend Prelate that it is a government priority. If we are going to solve these problems, this is about not just Defra but us working with the MHCLG and more broadly across government. We are putting forward the largest flood and coastal erosion programme in history, with £2.65 billion to better protect properties by March this year. We have started completing those schemes, and we will keep investing in this. It is a priority.

My Lords, does the Minister agree—

My Lords, does the Minister agree—

My Lords, I pay tribute—

My Lords, I pay tribute—

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Yorkshire Water, and others, are effectively exploiting loopholes in the Water (Special Measures) Act? How will they urgently be prevented from rewarding themselves for a polluting and failing service—whether it is called a bonus, a retention payment or, in the case of Yorkshire Water, so-called “fixed fees” of over £1 million, on top of a large salary for the chief executive? Should this money not be returned?

My Lords, does the Minister agree that Yorkshire Water, and others, are effectively exploiting loopholes in the Water (Special Measures) Act? How will they urgently be prevented from rewarding themselves for a polluting and failing service—whether it is called a bonus, a retention payment or, in the case of Yorkshire Water, so-called “fixed fees” of over £1 million, on top of a large salary for the chief executive? Should this money not be returned?

When we brought in the recent water Act, we expected water companies to respect what Parliament had passed, and to behave in the right way regarding paying themselves bonuses when they were continuing to pollute. We will do what we can to crack down on that and to change behaviour, but I am also pleased that we are looking to prioritise a further water Bill to continue to improve the situation.

When we brought in the recent water Act, we expected water companies to respect what Parliament had passed, and to behave in the right way regarding paying themselves bonuses when they were continuing to pollute. We will do what we can to crack down on that and to change behaviour, but I am also pleased that we are looking to prioritise a further water Bill to continue to improve the situation.

I pay tribute to the Slowing the Flow Pickering scheme, which has prevented the flooding of Pickering. I bring to the Minister’s attention the case of Gladman Developments v Lancaster City Council. It has set aside the sequential test and overruled what MHCLG was hoping for: that optional standards will be respected. Going forward, this will contribute to greater flooding until we have mandatory SUDS standards. Is this not causing the Government concern? There is an amendment to the English devolution Bill that I hope MHCLG might support.

I pay tribute to the Slowing the Flow Pickering scheme, which has prevented the flooding of Pickering. I bring to the Minister’s attention the case of Gladman Developments v Lancaster City Council. It has set aside the sequential test and overruled what MHCLG was hoping for: that optional standards will be respected. Going forward, this will contribute to greater flooding until we have mandatory SUDS standards. Is this not causing the Government concern? There is an amendment to the English devolution Bill that I hope MHCLG might support.