2nd Report - Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse
- HC No.
- Not recorded
- Published
- 24 Jul 2025
- Items
- 0
- Government response
- Government response published 9 October 2025 (deadline 24 September 2025). Read the government's response ↗
Select committee: Environment and Climate Change Committee
Nitrogen
Closed
Opened 30 Jan 2025
Closed 6 Jan 2026
Environment and Climate Change Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
This inquiry will consider the efficient use and management of reactive nitrogen. It will seek to understand how excess reactive nitrogen could be captured and re-used and potential solutions for reducing nitrogen pollution. It will consider the coordination of Government policy on nitrogen across departments and how the Government could take a more holistic and strategic approach. The report Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse was published on 24 July 2025. The Government Response was published on 9 October 2025 and the report was debated on 6 January 2026
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 30 January 2025.
The committee has published 1 report, most recently 2nd Report - Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse on 24 July 2025.
The government's response
Published 9 October 2025. The deadline was 24 September 2025.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with the Committee's priority of simplifying regulation and toughening enforcement, notes the circular approach priority, and partially agrees with the priority of a more strategic approach, saying it does not "see the value in producing a separate strategy for nitrogen".
- On regulation and enforcement, it "agrees with this priority" and says it will double Environment Agency farm inspection funding to reach "a record 6000 a year by 2029".
- On a national Nitrogen Balance Sheet, it "partially agrees" and will "consider whether a similar approach would add value in England", after looking at how it works in Scotland.
- On mandating covered slurry stores and low-emission spreading by 2027, it "partially agrees", saying the earlier timelines "are no longer realistic" and that any new requirements will be communicated to farmers before regulations take effect.
- On extending environmental permitting to large dairy and beef farms, it is "actively exploring whether to expand" it and will give further detail through the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Reports
All reportsEvidence
- 10 oral evidence sessionsLatest 22 May 2025
- 40 witnesses
Recent activity
- Letter from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Indoor Air Quality 25.10.2529 October 2025, Correspondence
- Government Response to the Environment and Climate Change Committee report 'Nitrogen: time to reduce, recycle, reuse'9 October 2025, Report published
- Letter from Baroness Sheehan to Defra Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Indoor Air Quality 10.09.202510 September 2025, Correspondence
Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Claire Northridge · Defra,
Daniel Zeichner MP · Defra,
Dr Bill Parish · Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs,
Emma Donnelly · Defra,
Emma Hardy MP · Defra
|
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| 7 May 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Chris Walters · Musicians’ Union,
Helen Wakeham · Environment Agency,
Nicola Riley · Environment Agency,
Paul Hickey · Ofwat
|
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| 23 Apr 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dr Tony Juniper CBE · Natural England,
Elle Winning · The West Midlands Combined Authority,
Mike Garrity · Dorset Council,
Rob Cameron · Natural England,
Tom Parkes · London Borough of Camden
|
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| 26 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dame Glenys Stacey · Ofqual,
Natalie Prosser · Office for Environmental Protection
|
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| 19 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Andrew Hoare · Fortescue,
Dr James Kershaw · Opportunity Green,
Lord John Fuller OBE · Brineflow Ltd.,
Mr Pawel Kisielewski · CCm Technologies,
Trevor Brown · Ammonia Energy Association,
Vicky Robinson · Agriculture Industries Confederation
|
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| 12 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
David Johnson · The Rivers Trust,
Mike Rose · UK Water Industry Research,
Pär Larshans · Ragn-Sells
|
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| 5 Mar 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Jerry Alford · Soil Association,
John Williams · ADAS,
Martin Lines · Nature Friendly Farming Network,
Peter Cowlrick · CCC Agronomy,
Tom Bradshaw · National Farmers' Union (NFU)
|
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| 26 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Professor Alastair Lewis · National Centre for Atmospheric Science,
Professor Anna Hansell · University of Leicester,
Professor Catherine Bondonno · Edith Cowan University,
Professor Gunter Kuhnle · University of Reading
|
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| 12 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
Dr Alexander Lees · Manchester Metropolitan University,
Dr Ed Rowe · UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,
Professor Jeremy Biggs · Freshwater Habitats Trust
|
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| 5 Feb 2025 |
Oral evidence session
David Baldock · Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP UK),
Dr Ulli Dragosits · UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology,
Professor Kevin Hicks · Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York
|
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Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Andrew Hoare · Head of Marine Systems and Green Shipping | Fortescue | 1 |
| Chris Walters · National Organiser, Education and Health & Wellbeing | Musicians’ Union | 1 |
| Claire Northridge · Deputy Director for Services and Regulation Policy | Defra | 1 |
| Dame Glenys Stacey · Acting Chief Regulator | Ofqual | 1 |
| Daniel Zeichner MP · Minister of State | Defra | 1 |
| David Baldock · Honorary Fellow | Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP UK) | 1 |
| David Johnson · Technical Director | The Rivers Trust | 1 |
| Dr Alexander Lees · Reader in biodiversity | Manchester Metropolitan University | 1 |
| Dr Bill Parish · Head of Air Quality & Industrial Emissions | Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs | 1 |
| Dr Ed Rowe · Senior Biogeochemical Modeller | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology | 1 |
| Dr James Kershaw · Scientific Officer | Opportunity Green | 1 |
| Dr Tony Juniper CBE · Chair | Natural England | 1 |
| Dr Ulli Dragosits · Group Leader for Emission Sources, Sinks and Solutions | UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology | 1 |
| Elle Winning · Air Quality Lead | The West Midlands Combined Authority | 1 |
| Emma Donnelly · Deputy Director for Clean Waters | Defra | 1 |
| Emma Hardy MP · Minister for Water and Flooding | Defra | 1 |
| Helen Wakeham · Director of Water | Environment Agency | 1 |
| Jerry Alford · Arable and Soils Advisor | Soil Association | 1 |
| John Williams · Head of Soils and Nutrients | ADAS | 1 |
| Lord John Fuller OBE · Chairman | Brineflow Ltd. | 1 |
| Martin Lines · CEO | Nature Friendly Farming Network | 1 |
| Mike Garrity · Corporate Director for Planning, Place | Dorset Council | 1 |
| Mike Rose · CEO | UK Water Industry Research | 1 |
| Mr Pawel Kisielewski · Chief Executive Officer | CCm Technologies | 1 |
| Natalie Prosser · CEO | Office for Environmental Protection | 1 |
| Nicola Riley · Deputy Director for Agriculture & Land | Environment Agency | 1 |
| Paul Hickey · Managing Director (RAPID - Regulators Alliance Progressing Infrastructure Development) | Ofwat | 1 |
| Peter Cowlrick · Technical Director | CCC Agronomy | 1 |
| Professor Alastair Lewis · Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry | National Centre for Atmospheric Science | 1 |
| Professor Anna Hansell · Professor of Environmental Epidemiology | University of Leicester | 1 |
| Professor Catherine Bondonno · Associate Professor | Edith Cowan University | 1 |
| Professor Gunter Kuhnle · Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology | University of Reading | 1 |
| Professor Jeremy Biggs · CEO | Freshwater Habitats Trust | 1 |
| Professor Kevin Hicks · Senior Research Fellow | Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York | 1 |
| Pär Larshans · Sustainability Director | Ragn-Sells | 1 |
| Rob Cameron · Deputy Director of Strategy | Natural England | 1 |
| Tom Bradshaw · President | National Farmers' Union (NFU) | 1 |
| Tom Parkes · Air Quality Programme Manager | London Borough of Camden | 1 |
| Trevor Brown · Executive Director | Ammonia Energy Association | 1 |
| Vicky Robinson · Head of Sustainability | Agriculture Industries Confederation | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct 2025 | To committee | Letter from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Indoor Air Quality 25.10.25 |
| 10 Sep 2025 | To committee | Letter from Baroness Sheehan to Defra Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on Indoor Air Quality 10.09.2025 |
| 3 Sep 2025 | To committee | Letter from Defra Minister for Water and Flooding to Baroness Sheehan on Indoor Air Quality 01.09.2025 |
| 17 Jul 2025 | To committee | Letter from Baroness Sheehan to SoS for Defra, HCLG and HSC on Nitrogen Indoor Air Quality 15.07.2025 |