To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Assessment of Veterinary Antimicrobial Residues in Feedlot Soils in Argentina, published in the scientific journal Antibiotics on 3 September; and what action, if any, they intend to take as a result.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Assessment of Veterinary Antimicrobial Residues in Feedlot Soils in Argentina, published in the scientific journal Antibiotics on 3 September; and what action, if any, they intend to take as a result.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to release their definition of "sustainable management" of soils under the Environmental Improvement Plan.

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to release their definition of "sustainable management" of soils under the Environmental Improvement Plan.

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of soil by volume from construction sites is being treated as waste; and what plans they have to reduce that percentage.

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of soil by volume from construction sites is being treated as waste; and what plans they have to reduce that percentage.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many students are currently enrolled in soil science doctorate and master's programmes; and what plans they have to increase the number of students graduating from these programmes.

To ask His Majesty's Government how many students are currently enrolled in soil science doctorate and master's programmes; and what plans they have to increase the number of students graduating from these programmes.

To ask His Majesty's Government how the role and importance of soils is being taught in schools; and whether soil science will feature significantly in the new natural history GCSE.

To ask His Majesty's Government how the role and importance of soils is being taught in schools; and whether soil science will feature significantly in the new natural history GCSE.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

Not long after my election in 2024, I received an email from a father of three whose home had been flooded for the second time in five years. He wrote:

“The increasing uncertainty in the weather caused by global warming only increases the flood risk in the immediacy—and in future, we...

Not long after my election in 2024, I received an email from a father of three whose home had been flooded for the second time in five years. He wrote:

“The increasing uncertainty in the weather caused by global warming only increases the flood risk in the immediacy—and in future, we...

I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this debate—I spoke to her beforehand. This is not the Minister’s responsibility, but back home they have allocated £16,000 for flood resilience, which would hardly pay to get a JCB and a trailer down to where the coastal erosion and floods are...

I commend the hon. Lady for bringing forward this debate—I spoke to her beforehand. This is not the Minister’s responsibility, but back home they have allocated £16,000 for flood resilience, which would hardly pay to get a JCB and a trailer down to where the coastal erosion and floods are...

Absolutely, and that is a point I will return to later in my speech. There is a huge benefit-cost ratio for early investment in flood resilience—it pays back many times over.

Let us recognise the scale of the challenge that we face: 6.3 million properties across the UK are already at...

Absolutely, and that is a point I will return to later in my speech. There is a huge benefit-cost ratio for early investment in flood resilience—it pays back many times over.

Let us recognise the scale of the challenge that we face: 6.3 million properties across the UK are already at...

On investment, residents of Bissoe, which is partly in my constituency and partly in the constituency of the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham), are fed up with floods every winter linked to abandoned local metal mines. It is a persistent problem across Cornwall. The Mining Remediation Authority,...

On investment, residents of Bissoe, which is partly in my constituency and partly in the constituency of the hon. Member for Truro and Falmouth (Jayne Kirkham), are fed up with floods every winter linked to abandoned local metal mines. It is a persistent problem across Cornwall. The Mining Remediation Authority,...

Once again, the hon. Member’s point is that as we face increasing frequency and severity of floods, existing problems are going to become worse, so we need to invest to protect communities against that. Investment early is going to be cheaper than paying the costs in the long run.

Once again, the hon. Member’s point is that as we face increasing frequency and severity of floods, existing problems are going to become worse, so we need to invest to protect communities against that. Investment early is going to be cheaper than paying the costs in the long run.

In my constituency, the Shipston Area Flood Action Group has led a natural flood management project, working together with local landowners to slow the flow of the River Stour upstream. Does the hon. Member agree that we need greater investment in natural flood management, so that communities are protected before...

In my constituency, the Shipston Area Flood Action Group has led a natural flood management project, working together with local landowners to slow the flow of the River Stour upstream. Does the hon. Member agree that we need greater investment in natural flood management, so that communities are protected before...

The hon. Member makes an excellent point that I was about to make myself. Natural flood management has got to be a core element of our response to flood risk. I have met families who have gone through the ordeal of seeing their homes flooded time and again.

I have met...

The hon. Member makes an excellent point that I was about to make myself. Natural flood management has got to be a core element of our response to flood risk. I have met families who have gone through the ordeal of seeing their homes flooded time and again.

I have met...

The hon. Lady is making a powerful case. Residents in my constituency have experienced the devastating effects of flooding and live in fear of it happening again. Does she agree that it is extraordinary that when a local flood agency looks into these matters and identifies the steps that can...

The hon. Lady is making a powerful case. Residents in my constituency have experienced the devastating effects of flooding and live in fear of it happening again. Does she agree that it is extraordinary that when a local flood agency looks into these matters and identifies the steps that can...

The hon. Gentleman’s point about co-ordination between agencies is absolutely crucial; it is another point that I will be coming to in my speech. This is an issue that crosses boundaries, because river catchments do not respect administrative or sectoral boundaries. We need to have a fully joined-up approach.

Herefordians know...

The hon. Gentleman’s point about co-ordination between agencies is absolutely crucial; it is another point that I will be coming to in my speech. This is an issue that crosses boundaries, because river catchments do not respect administrative or sectoral boundaries. We need to have a fully joined-up approach.

Herefordians know...

The hon. Lady is making an excellent speech. I would like to talk about natural flood management and how it sits naturally with district councils. In my constituency we have had more than 1,200 interventions over 12 years—I think we lead nationally on this. I want in particular to praise...

The hon. Lady is making an excellent speech. I would like to talk about natural flood management and how it sits naturally with district councils. In my constituency we have had more than 1,200 interventions over 12 years—I think we lead nationally on this. I want in particular to praise...

I am always in favour of Government making it easier for local authorities to unlock funding, as well as Government providing more funding to enable the good things, like natural flood management, to happen.

To finish my point on the flood recovery framework, will the Minister look again at whether local...

I am always in favour of Government making it easier for local authorities to unlock funding, as well as Government providing more funding to enable the good things, like natural flood management, to happen.

To finish my point on the flood recovery framework, will the Minister look again at whether local...

My hon. Friend is making a powerful case. In constituencies that are vulnerable to flooding, such as Waveney Valley, farmers are indeed essential to managing water in a way that stores it on land and protects communities downstream. Countryside stewardship higher tier payments fund the work that creates wetlands, restores...

My hon. Friend is making a powerful case. In constituencies that are vulnerable to flooding, such as Waveney Valley, farmers are indeed essential to managing water in a way that stores it on land and protects communities downstream. Countryside stewardship higher tier payments fund the work that creates wetlands, restores...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. The Government have a crucial role to play in supporting farmers to put in place the measures that are so helpful for our long-term resilience and have many wider community benefits too.

This work is key because healthy soils, healthy rivers and resilient landscapes...

My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. The Government have a crucial role to play in supporting farmers to put in place the measures that are so helpful for our long-term resilience and have many wider community benefits too.

This work is key because healthy soils, healthy rivers and resilient landscapes...

Will the hon. Lady give way?

Will the hon. Lady give way?