Committee

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Departmental select committee Commons Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

What it does

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) scrutinises the work of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). It looks at issues from farming to the water sector to a circular economy. View the full list of the committee’s strategic priorities.
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Members

Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP Liberal Democrat Chair
Ben Goldsborough MP Labour Member
Charlie Dewhirst MP Conservative Member
Henry Tufnell MP Labour Member
Jayne Kirkham MP Labour (Co-op) Member
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter MP Labour Member
Josh Newbury MP Labour Member
Juliet Campbell MP Labour Member
Sarah Bool MP Conservative Member
Sarah Dyke MP Liberal Democrat Member
Terry Jermy MP Labour Member

Recent outputs

Special Report 3rd Special Report - Failures at South East Water: Government Response 10 Jul 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to Emma Reynolds, Secretary of State, Defra regarding managed burning licencing and wildfires, dated 7 July 2026 7 Jul 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from Mark Garth, CEO of Affinity Water, regarding the work of EFRA, dated 1 July 2026 7 Jul 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to the Secretary of State, Defra regarding selection criteria for the new Environment Agency Chair, dated 30 June 2026 30 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from South East Water regarding leadership updates, dated 22 June 2026 30 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from Baroness Hayman, Minister for Animal Welfare and Biosecurity, regarding veterinary medicines, dated 22 June 2026 30 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to the Secretary of State regarding London & Valley Water Thames Water Restructuring Proposal, dated 23 June 2026 23 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from Sir Adrian Montague, Chairman, Thames Water regarding due diligence report, dated 9 June 2026 23 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from Baroness Hayman, Minister for Animal Welfare and Biosecurity, regarding a survey of public awareness of rules for personal imports from the EU into GB, dated 4 June 2026 23 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Secretary of State, Defra, regarding appointing a new Environment Agency Chair, dated 9 June 2026 23 Jun 2026
Special Report 1st Special Report - Erosion of trust: the impact of coastal erosion on communities: Government Response 22 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to Baroness Hayman regarding concerns about access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and risks around antimicrobial resistance, 4 June 2026 5 Jun 2026
Report 1st Report - A sustainable veterinary workforce 5 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to Thames Water regarding its restructuring plan, dated 3 June 2026 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence to Ofwat regarding Thames Water's restructuring plan, dated 3 June 2026 3 Jun 2026
Attendance statistics Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee attendance for Session 2024–26 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the CEO of Association of Drainage Authorities regarding Concerns about Energy Standing Charges for Flood Risk Management Authorities, dated 20 May 2026 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Secretary of State following the evidence session on 21 April in relation to the Food supply chain fairness and resilience inquiry, dated 20 May 2026 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Interim Chair of South East Water regarding its credit rating, dated 28 May 2026 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from Baroness Hayman on preparations for a future Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement with the European Union, dated 28 May 2026 3 Jun 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero relating to rural proofing policies, dated 26 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Cabinet Office relating to rural proofing policies, dated 24 March 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Department for Education relating to rural proofing policies, dated 3 March 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Home Office relating to rural proofing policies, dated 2 February 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to rural proofing policies, dated 28 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to rural proofing policies, dated 23 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to rural proofing policies, dated 21 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Department for Work and Pensions relating to rural proofing policies, dated 21 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Ministry of Justice relating to rural proofing policies, dated 14 January 2026 20 May 2026
Correspondence Correspondence from the Ministry of Defence relating to rural proofing policies, dated 14 January 2026 20 May 2026

Source: the official committee page.