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9 September 2025 - Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Oral evidence session

Committee Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Inquiries Reforming the water sector, Climate adaptation and emergency response, Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy

Tuesday 9 September 2025

Start times: 9:30am (private) 10:00am (public)


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Water sector reform – what will DEFRA do next? MPs to question Minister for Water and Flooding  

Priorities for water sector reform and the challenges facing Thames Water will lead tomorrow’s evidence session with the Minister for Water and Flooding, Emma Hardy MP at 10am, as theCommittee for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs continues to push the Department for solutions.  

Meeting details

At 10:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Reforming the water sector
Minister for Water and Flooding at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Director for Floods and Water at Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
At 11:00am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Climate adaptation and emergency response
Minister for water and flooding at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Director for Floods and Water at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
At 11:30am: Oral evidence
Inquiry Preventing waste and enabling a circular economy
Minister for Water and Flooding at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
Director for Floods and Water at Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Reports that the UK has suffered its worst ever year for wildfires adds urgency to Government measures to build resilience against climate threats. As farmers grapple with ongoing drought, MPs will question the Minister on how land and food will be protected.  

The Minister is also responsible for plastics policy and oversaw the UK’s delegation to the global plastics treaty negotiations in Geneva in August. As discussions failed to reach a consensus, with no immediate plans to resume, the Committee plans to press the Minister for an update on the UK’s next steps. 

Witnesses on 9 September: 

At 10am: 

  • Minister for Water and Flooding at Defra, Emma Hardy MP 
  • Director for Floods and Water at Defra, David Hallam 

Location

Room 6, Palace of Westminster

How to attend