1-20 of 2,017 results for subject:Droughts
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To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of drought and heat tolerant varieties of crops for UK farmers.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the development of drought and heat tolerant varieties of crops for UK farmers.
Genetic technologies offer huge potential for British farmers, enabling development of crops that are more nutritious, resistant to pests and disease, resilient to climate change and more environmentally beneficial.
The department is supporting innovation through Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme, funding a £12.5 million competition specifically for precision breeding, including drought resistant crops. Defra’s Genetic Improvement Networks Platform also supports £15m crop breeding R&D for priority climate resilience traits, including drought and heat.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide crisis loans to the farming community severely impacted by the drought this summer.
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide crisis loans to the farming community severely impacted by the drought this summer.
This Government has acted to support farmers affected by drought with a package of support measures: https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/15/new-drought-support-for-farmers/ (see attached).
This Government also supports access to finance for smaller businesses through the British Business Bank's Growth Guarantee Scheme, which many farm businesses are eligible to access.
This Government will continue to monitor the situation closely, working with stakeholders across farming, water and biosecurity to consider pressures and emerging risks on businesses and domestic food production.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the water management grant of up to £15 million, within the drought support package.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the water management grant of up to £15 million, within the drought support package.
The Government recognises the significant challenges that drought conditions can pose for farmers and growers. As part of the drought support package announced on 14 August 2026, up to £15 million has been made available to support on-farm reservoir construction.
The proposed level of funding has been informed by evaluation evidence from the previous two rounds of the Water Management Grant, where applications are expected to result in around £12.5 million of grant expenditure in total. Given the previous government were unable to spend the full budget allocated to the previous rounds of the Water Management Grant, we won’t repeat that failure and as such will continue to monitor delivery and demand to ensure the grant supports practical investments that strengthen water security and farm resilience to climate change.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 21883 answered on 7 September 2026 about Fruit Horticulture, will she hold imminent discussions with the British Berry Growers Association to discuss [i] the challenges faced by the drought of Summer 2026 and [ii] the...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to WPQ 21883 answered on 7 September 2026 about Fruit Horticulture, will she hold imminent discussions with the British Berry Growers Association to discuss [i] the challenges faced by the drought of Summer 2026 and [ii] the...
Defra has frequent engagement with key horticulture stakeholders including berry growers on the range of matters impacting the horticulture sector. Additionally, through the National Drought Group, ministers engage specifically with the National Farmers' Union and Horticulture Trades Association to assess drought impacts and to coordinate action across all sectors, helping to inform planning, response and resilience measures. This engagement informed the Government’s package of support for farmers affected by drought, announced in August.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support is available to beef farmers in West Dorset for costs and livestock losses as a result of drought and bluetongue.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what support is available to beef farmers in West Dorset for costs and livestock losses as a result of drought and bluetongue.
Defra recognises the significant challenges posed by bluetongue and drought, including for farmers in West Dorset, alongside other pressures facing farmers and veterinary professionals. On 15 August, Defra announced a £65 million package to support farmers and strengthen long-term resilience. This includes an additional £50 million for the Sustainable Farming Incentive, up to £15 million through the Water Management Grant, and temporary adjustments to Environmental Land Management agreements. Farmers can access support through GOV.UK bluetongue guidance, the Rural Services Helpline and Farming Help. Keepers can access the animal health and welfare pathway, including an annual funded visit by a veterinarian.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of drought and bluetongue on the viability of beef farms in West Dorset.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of drought and bluetongue on the viability of beef farms in West Dorset.
The Government recognises how hard this summer has been for farmers, including with regard to drought and bluetongue.
As announced in August 2026, the Government is supporting farmers through a range of measures. These include temporary Environmental Land Management flexibilities and up to £15m in funding million for on-farm reservoirs.
Defra has announced an extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2, which opens later this month. This takes SFI26’s total budget to £290 million and helps more farmers access support.
The Environment Agency is prioritising short-term abstraction licence variations, and the Government is committed to continue working with the farming sector to improve resilience of on-farm water supply to ensure farmers can invest with confidence.
Defra continues to monitor the effects of the disease through surveillance, including information on fallen stock, and ongoing engagement with farmers, veterinary professionals and industry representatives. Defra is also monitoring impacts of dry conditions which vary by farm type, geography and access to water.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase water security for Farmers in Devon during heatwaves.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to increase water security for Farmers in Devon during heatwaves.
The Government is taking forward a range of measures to strengthen agricultural water resilience to droughts and heatwaves.
Defra has recently announced that it is opening a round of Water Management Grants, with up to £15m available to help farmers build on-farm reservoirs to improve water security. In addition, Defra is making it easier to build reservoirs, by updating planning guidance.
Defra also reminded farmers that they can apply to the Environment Agency for temporary abstraction flexibility, known as Local Enforcement Positions, where environmental impacts can be appropriately managed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the abstraction licensing regime in providing protection for water resources during periods of prolonged drought in water-stressed areas such as Suffolk.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the abstraction licensing regime in providing protection for water resources during periods of prolonged drought in water-stressed areas such as Suffolk.
The Environment Agency protects rivers and groundwater through abstraction licence conditions and restrictions. The Government is improving resilience.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 3 September (HL Deb col 243), what steps they have taken to ensure that water shortage is not significantly due to poor management by water companies of leakage.
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Hayman of Ullock on 3 September (HL Deb col 243), what steps they have taken to ensure that water shortage is not significantly due to poor management by water companies of leakage.
Water companies have committed to halving leakage by 2050, from a 2017/18 baseline, and the Government has set an interim target of 30% reduction by 2032. The Water Delivery Taskforce is holding water companies to account for delivery of their planned investments, within and beyond Price Review 2024.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential contribution Sustainable Drainage Systems towards drought resilience and levels of demand on public water supplies over the next 25 years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential contribution Sustainable Drainage Systems towards drought resilience and levels of demand on public water supplies over the next 25 years.
The Government recognises the importance of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) in improving drought resilience and reducing demand on water supply. The National Planning Policy Framework requires SuDS in all new development, designed and maintained to the National Standards.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2022 drought on the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of the 2022 drought on the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
In 2022 the Environment Agency declared a drought in south east England. This resulted in lower than average flows in the River Thames, reducing the volumes that could be abstracted and stored in reservoirs in London, including the Queen Mary, Queen Mother and Wraysbury reservoirs.
Thames Water has said London’s total reservoir storage fell to around 58%, compared to a normal seasonal average of 75%, as a result of this reduced abstraction and higher than normal demand associated with the prolonged dry weather. The reservoirs were subsequently filled when the drought ended, recovering to normal levels over the autumn and winter period.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the water demand of new and planned datacentres, and whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of their designation as critical national infrastructure taking priority over household water use...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the water demand of new and planned datacentres, and whether she has made an assessment of the potential risk of their designation as critical national infrastructure taking priority over household water use...
As the data centre sector grows, Defra is working across Government and with the Environment Agency to better understand this growth and reduce its impact.
Protecting public water supplies for households and businesses remains a priority during periods of acute water stress. Critical national infrastructure status does not create a general obligation on water companies to provide water for cooling. The Security and Emergency Measures Direction requires water companies, when preparing emergency plans, to identify and prioritise vulnerable customers, while also having regard to the needs of non-domestic users and any notified Critical National Infrastructure.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased urban tree cover on(a) heatwaves, (b) flooding and (c) drought in areas with low levels of existing tree cover.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of increased urban tree cover on(a) heatwaves, (b) flooding and (c) drought in areas with low levels of existing tree cover.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8th September 2026, to Question UIN 26078, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, how many additional days would the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction add to London’s potable water supply in a very severe drought...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 8th September 2026, to Question UIN 26078, on Water Abstraction: Teddington, how many additional days would the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction add to London’s potable water supply in a very severe drought...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the ability of the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme to provide resilience in a 1:200 year drought event, in the context of the 1:40 drought event of 2022 seeing naturalised flows...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the ability of the proposed Teddington Direct River Abstraction Scheme to provide resilience in a 1:200 year drought event, in the context of the 1:40 drought event of 2022 seeing naturalised flows...
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of this summer's drought on the supply of potatoes grown in the UK; and what plans they have to ensure the adequate supply of potatoes over winter.
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects of this summer's drought on the supply of potatoes grown in the UK; and what plans they have to ensure the adequate supply of potatoes over winter.
It is too early to assess the full impact of this summer's drought on potato production. While some growers have experienced challenging conditions, there is currently no indication that supplies of potatoes over winter are at risk.
Our diverse and resilient food system, supported by both domestic production and international trade, has historically responded well to withstand localised production shocks. Defra continues to monitor domestic and international supply closely, including through the UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group, to identify any potential risks to food supply chains.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to prepare for the risk of flash flooding following drought conditions.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to prepare for the risk of flash flooding following drought conditions.
The Flood Forecasting Centre improves preparedness by providing early warnings of conditions that could trigger flash flooding, through daily flood guidance statements and the new rapid flood guidance service. Longer-term flood outlooks are improving and support flood response planning for emergency responders and the public. The Environment Agency uses the latest weather forecasts from the Met Office, and its flood forecast models to help inform incident management decisions such as issuing Flood Alerts and Warnings. The Environment Agency’s new Forecasting and Warning Service launched in May 2026 has improved our forecasting, modelling, and warning functions. It is supported by major digital updates and artificial intelligence (AI) approaches.
The next national adaptation programme, NAP4, is not due until 2028, but the wildfires and droughts we saw this summer and the impending extreme El Niño show that we cannot wait that long. Will the Minister commit to taking urgent action to tackle resilience before then and give our farmers, communities and householders the support they need to face the challenges of drought, wildfire and flood risk?
The next national adaptation programme, NAP4, is not due until 2028, but the wildfires and droughts we saw this summer and the impending extreme El Niño show that we cannot wait that long. Will the Minister commit to taking urgent action to tackle resilience before then and give our farmers, communities and householders the support they need to face the challenges of drought, wildfire and flood risk?
I completely recognise the importance of the point that the hon. Lady has made; she has made it previously. The Government have established and tested response protocols in place for all severe weather events. The impact of each is often very different based on different factors, but I give her an assurance of the seriousness with which we take these issues. We are working across Government to ensure that our response is proportionate to the nature of the threat we face from climate change.
I completely recognise the importance of the point that the hon. Lady has made; she has made it previously. The Government have established and tested response protocols in place for all severe weather events. The impact of each is often very different based on different factors, but I give her an assurance of the seriousness with which we take these issues. We are working across Government to ensure that our response is proportionate to the nature of the threat we face from climate change.
I completely recognise the importance of the point that the hon. Lady has made; she has made it previously. The Government have established and tested response protocols in place for all severe weather events. The impact of each is often very different based on different factors, but I give her an assurance of the seriousness with which we take these issues. We are working across Government to ensure that our response is proportionate to the nature of the threat we face from climate change.
The next national adaptation programme, NAP4, is not due until 2028, but the wildfires and droughts we saw this summer and the impending extreme El Niño show that we cannot wait that long. Will the Minister commit to taking urgent action to tackle resilience before then and give our farmers, communities and householders the support they need to face the challenges of drought, wildfire and flood risk?
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact of drought conditions during summer 2026 on farmers; what support is available to assist affected farmers with additional costs arising from those conditions; and whether she has made...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact of drought conditions during summer 2026 on farmers; what support is available to assist affected farmers with additional costs arising from those conditions; and whether she has made...
Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise, including to farmers. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.
As announced in August 2026, the Government is supporting farmers through a range of measures. These include temporary Environmental Land Management flexibilities and up to £15m in funding million for on-farm reservoirs.
Defra has announced an extra £50 million for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) 2026 Window 2, which opens later this month. This takes SFI26’s total budget to £290 million and helps more farmers access support.
The Environment Agency is prioritising short-term abstraction licence variations, and the Government is committed to continue working with the farming sector to improve resilience of on-farm water supply to ensure farmers can invest with confidence.
The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with the farming and water sectors, taking further action if needed.