Transparency data
Defra's ministerial meetings, April to June 2026
Updated 24 September 2026
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| Minister | Date | Name of Individual or Organisation | Purpose of Meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emma Hardy | 2026-04-14 | Institution of Civil Engineers | To discuss water engineering |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-04-16 | Defra Group Trade Unions | To discuss water refoms |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-04-20 | Nature Friendly Farming Network | Discussion on fertiliser use and farmer behaviour |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-05-14 | United Uilities, Atom Bank, Environment Agency | To discuss Windemere |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-05-19 | FloodReady Chair | Meeting with Chair of the FloodReady leadership group discussing flood preparedness |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-05-20 | Surfers Against Sewage | To discuss water reform |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-06-03 | Save Windemere | To discuss Windemere |
| Emma Hardy | 2026-06-09 | The River Trust | Discussions on the Water Reform Bill |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-15 | Oliver Munn (Rural Payments Association) | Meeting to progress and check in to discuss digital transformation, SFI26, and horticulture support funding |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-15 | Karen Betts (FDF) | Meeting in the context of the Middle East, discussed plastic packaging supply chains, energy costs for food businesses. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-21 | Mother of deceased child and friend | Meeting to hear about family experiences and effects of water pollution on lives. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-21 | Tom Bradshaw (NFU) | Meeting to discuss farming and the SPS agreement and middle east crisis impact on farmers. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-29 | Ranjit Singh Boparan (2 Sisters Food Group) | Meeting discussing planning for poultry sheds. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-29 | Sarah Bradbury (IGD) | Discussion on food prices in the context of the middle east crisis response. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-29 | Rory Stewart | Meeting discussing rural affairs and uplands. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-04-29 | Dr Rosamund Kissi-Debrah | Meeting to discuss her campaign on clean air policy. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-05-06 | Scottish NFU | Meeting on fertilisers, food production resilience and security |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-05-19 | NFU | Meeting with NFU and Minister for Cabinet Office on NFU’s position on the UK-EU SPS Agreement |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-06-03 | Save Windermere | Meeting to listen about the effects of water pollution on peoples lives and discuss suggestions to clean up lake windermere. |
| Emma Reynolds | 2026-06-22 | Tom Bradshaw (NFU) | Quick meeting to discuss the farming roadmap publication and FPR response |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-04-14 | Ball Corporation | Discussion with with Ball Corporation and Alupro to discuss the environmental implications of UK aluminium scrap exports |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-04-14 | Supportive pEPR Group | The purpose of this meeting was to thank the stakeholders for their support. Stakeholders were also reassured that pEPR implementation is going smoothly and of the government’s ambition for the collection and packaging reforms |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-04-21 | Tikki Hywood Foundation and City of London Police | Meeting with Lisa Hywood (Tikki Hywood Foundation) and Tracy Alexander (Director of Forensic Services for the City of London Police) to discuss the illegal wildlife trade (IWT). |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-04-27 | Mary-Ann Ochota / Protected Landscapes Partnership | Minister Creagh appointed Mary-Ann Ochota as the first Independent Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership (PLP) and had an introductory meeting with her in January. This meeting was to check in with Mary-Ann to find out how she is settling into her role, what progress she has made, and reaffirm priorities. |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-04-28 | British Soft Drinks Association | The meeting focused on the soft drinks industry's priorities and concerns regarding the implementation of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-06-02 | BASF (plastics and chemicals) | The meeting focused on BASF's experience in circular economy innovation and its views on the policy and regulatory measures needed to support growth and increase circularity in the chemicals and plastics sectors. |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-06-02 | Fairtrade Foundation | This meeting was requested by Fairtrade to discuss the work that they’re doing with Transform Trade to ensure the new UK deforestation regulations will be implemented in a way that does not shift the compliance burden disproportionately onto producers. |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-06-02 | Chester Zoo | The meeting brought together conservation organisations, zoos and government representatives to discuss the implementation of the Species Reintroduction Taskforce recommendations, including approaches to scaling up species recovery, reforming licensing processes, securing long-term funding, and increasing private sector and public participation in nature recovery. |
| Mary Creagh | 2026-06-02 | World Business Council for Sustainable Development | The meeting discussed how the Global Circularity Protocol could support UK circular economy objectives, strengthen business engagement in circularity, and enhance collaboration between Defra and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-21 | Wild Life Guardian, Four Paws, Humane World for Animals, World Animal Protection, Borne Free, Ban Trophy Hunting, Zimbabwe Elephant Foundation, Lion Aid | Ministerial roundtable with NGOs to discuss the ban on the import of hunting trophies. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-21 | UK Centre for Animal Law | To discuss enforcement around the fur industry |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-22 | National Office of Animal Health | A meeting with representatives from the pharmaceutical industry to discuss supply of vet meds to Northern Ireland. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-22 | Patrick Vallance (Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation), Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (Minister for the Cabinet Office) | To discuss novel foods regulation and implications of the SPS Agreement for the sector. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-28 | Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | Baroness Hayman met with the RCVS to discuss proposals for the future regulation of the veterinary sector and the development of a new Veterinary Surgeons Act. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-28 | Animal Aid | An introduction meeting to discuss Animal Aids work concerning wild animal welfare |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-28 | Point to Point Authority, Hunting Kind, Countryside Alliance, Association of Harriers and Beagles, British Hound Sports Association, Country Land and Business Association, | Ministerial hosted roundtable with external stakeholders to discuss trail hunting ban, encouraging views on any community, social, business, economic or environmental impacts potentially associated with the ban and how it is brought into effect. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-28 | League Against Cruel Sports, Hunt Saboteurs Association, RSPCA, Gammon Piercy & Gaiger LLP, Clean Boot Hunting Association, Wildlife and Countryside Link, Wildlife Guardian, Nature Watch Foundation, Protect the Wild | Ministerial hosted roundtable with external stakeholders to discuss trail hunting ban, encouraging views on any community, social, business, economic or environmental impacts potentially associated with the ban and how it is brought into effect. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-29 | Dover Port Health Authority | Informal meeting to discuss future funding with Dover Port Health Authority. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-29 | The National Farmer's Union | To discuss work on avian influenza. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-04-29 | Animal Health Welfare Board for England | Discussion on animal health and welfare policy priorities, including disease control, biosecurity, enforcement, livestock health, companion animal welfare, and government-industry collaboration. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-15 | Northern Ireland Fish Producers Organisation, The Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers Organisation, The National Inshore Fisheries Forum | To discuss challenges facing the fishing sector, including workforce and visa issues, access to fishing grounds, fuel costs, quotas and market pressures. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-14 | CBI, CBI London, Asda, Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Ulster Farmers' Union, Westland Horticulture, Musgrave Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, Division of Dawn Meats | Attended a roundtable with business and industry representatives in Northern Ireland to discuss the implementation of recent SPS arrangements and wider issues affecting trade, regulation and business operations. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-19 | Worshipful Company of Farriers, Farriers Registration Council, Equine Podiatry Association, Animal Health Professions’ Register, Institute of Osteopathy, British Association of Equine Dental Technicians, Worldwide Association of Equine Dentistry, National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers, Cattle Hoof Care Standards Board, Animal Behaviour , and Training Council, British and Irish Veterinary Technicians Association | Minister hosted roundtable with Allied Veterinary Professions to discuss reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-19 | North of Ireland Veterinary Association, British Veterinary Association Northern Ireland, Neil Hudson MP, Ulster Farmers Union, British Veterinary Association, Veterinary Surgeons Supply Co, Lord Trees, The Rt Hon Hilary Benn, Secretary of State Northern Ireland | Attended a meeting with veterinary, farming and government stakeholders to discuss veterinary medicines policy and supply arrangements in Northern Ireland. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-19 | Food Standards Agency | To discuss food safety and animal health matters, including enforcement, biosecurity risks and longer-term policy issues. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-20 | Pirbright Institute?, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, UK Research & Innovation?, Defra Science Advisory Council, Association of Chief Trading Standards Officers, UK Health Security Agency?, British Horse Council | Baroness Hayman chaired a roundtable to discuss the development of a new animal disease resilience |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-05-20 | British Meat Processors Association, British Poultry, The Livestock Auctioneers' Association, British Egg Industry Council, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Animal, Health and Welfare Board England, The National Farmers' Union | Baroness Hayman chaired a roundtable with representatives from the livestock, veterinary and food sectors to discuss the development of a new animal disease resilience strategy and approaches to strengthening disease prevention, preparedness and recovery. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-02 | Agricultural Industries Confederation, Amivet, British Retail Consortium, British Ports Association, Federation of Small Businesses, Food and Drink Federation, Horticultural Trades Association, Logistics, National Farmers Union, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Shellfish Association of Great Britian. | Baroness Hayman chaired a meeting of the SPS Readiness Business Advisory Council to discuss business readiness, guidance and communications relating to the implementation of SPS arrangements. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-02 | Dr Giovanna Massei (Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control), Professor Steven Balmain | To discuss research into animal fertility control and its potential application in wildlife and pest management. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-02 | Melanie Verwoerd | To discuss animal welfare and conservation. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-04 | David Macmillan, Political Reporter, BBC | Baroness Hayman participated in a media interview to discuss Government policy on access to nature, green spaces and environmental improvement. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-09 | Andrew Muir (Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland) | Catch up to discuss SPS arrangements, veterinary medicines, biosecurity and other matters relating to agriculture and the environment. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-10 | Humane World for Animals, British Fur Trade Association, International Fur Federation, Respect for Animals, A-Law | Baroness Hayman attended a stakeholder working group on animal welfare issues associated with the fur trade and the evidence informing future policy development. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-10 | Karin Smyth MP | To discuss veterinary regulatory reform and oversight arrangements. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-10 | British Meat Processors Association | To discuss priorities for the meat processing sector and current trade and regulatory issues. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-10 | Lord Hart of Tenby | To discuss trail hunting and perspectives on options for addressing animal welfare concerns. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-16 | Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | Met with representatives of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to discuss proposals for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and future veterinary regulation. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-16 | Family members affected by a fatal dog attack, Julia Buckley MP | Met with the mother of a victim of a fatal dog attack and her Member of Parliament to discuss dangerous dogs policy, responsible dog ownership and public safety. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-17 | British Veterinary Association | To discuss the Government’s proposals for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and the future regulation of the veterinary profession. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-23 | Katrina Godfrey | To discuss oversight arrangements for veterinary regulation and reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-23 | Nature Friendly Farming Network | To discuss nature recovery and animal welfare. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-25 | Four Paws | To discuss animal welfare policy issues, including fur, method of production labelling and trophy hunting. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-25 | Lord Trees, Danny Chambers MP | To discuss proposals for reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and wider animal health policy issues. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-30 | Andrew George MP, Ben Maguire MP, Cornwall Council, Noah Law MP, | To discuss coastal access, heritage considerations associated with the England Coast Path, and opportunities to improve access to nature. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-30 | Baroness Twycross | To discuss the inclusion of trail hunting in DCSM's inventory of living heritage. |
| Susan Hayman | 2026-06-30 | Tibbets Group, Sean Woodcock MP | To discuss a plant health incident affecting imported goods and the measures required to manage associated biosecurity risks. |