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1713193

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Water Treatment: Yorkshire and the Humber
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that devolved regions in Yorkshire develop a strategic plan for water and sewage management.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	23245
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>In January 2023, the Government published its Environmental Improvement Plan. This included a commitment for more joined up management of the water system. The current water and floods policy and legal framework has been developed incrementally over time, resulting in over 15 national plans and strategic documents. Whilst each plan has its own purpose, we want to make the whole framework more outcome-focussed and fully integrated with other environmental plans and government delivery plans. We reiterated this commitment in our landmark Plan for Water published in April 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demand. To improve the strategic management of drainage and target investment appropriately to meet future needs, water and sewerage companies have produced Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, including how the drainage network will adapt to changes such as an increasing population and urban creep. Water companies in England (including Yorkshire Water) have already produced one round of DWMPs, with the final plans published in Summer 2023. As committed to in the Plan for Water and the Environmental Improvement Plan, DWMPs will be placed on a statutory footing for the next cycle (2024-2029), in line with the ambition laid out in section 79 of the Environment Act 2021. Statutory planning will help to ensure that sewerage companies fully assess the wastewater and sewerage network capacity and promote closer working and development of collaborative solutions with others who are responsible for parts of the drainage network, such as local authorities. Combined with other water plans and initiatives, DWMPs will help to ensure drainage and wastewater services are better managed and properly supported, as well as delivering greater efficiencies for customers and supporting investment in nature-based solutions.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 02/05/2024 09:59:29 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713195

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Flood Control: Yorkshire and the Humber
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will work with metro mayors to create a plan for flooding across Yorkshire.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	23246
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Lead Local Flood Authorities have a duty to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area, and the Government is supportive of them working together to deliver shared mitigations for a wider area.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to reform the current approach to local flood risk planning by 2026, ensuring every area of England will have a more strategic and comprehensive plan that drives long-term local action and investment and supports a catchment-based approach. To strengthen collaboration, we will encourage flood and coastal erosion risk management activities across local authority boundaries and explore options to join up flood resilience with other responsibilities held by Mayors or Combined Authorities.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s six-year £200 million flood and coastal innovation programme (FCIP), £8 million is allocated to four adaptation pathways to support work in the Thames and Humber estuaries, the Severn Valley and Yorkshire to trial and develop ways of planning ahead and making wise investment choices for the decades to come in the face of the long-term uncertainties brought by climate change. The West Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (WYAP) project is developing a community-scale surface water flood risk adaptation plan for a town in West Yorkshire. The South Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (SYAP) project aims to develop an adaptation pathway plan for South Yorkshire which will ensure that all decision-making on, and implementation of, long-term, future adaptation is as efficient and effective as possible.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/04/2024 09:00:11 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713197

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Tree Planting: North of England
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will work with metro mayors on delivering the White Rose forest objectives.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	23247
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire, working in partnership with local authorities, landowners, businesses and communities to increase woodland across the region and improve our natural environment. To deliver the objectives of our Community Forests and Woodland Creation Partnerships Defra works with a wide range of stakeholders in local government, the NGO sector and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/05/2024 15:26:46 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1701071

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Water Supply: Planning
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage agencies involved in water management to produce joint plans.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	21724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>In January 2023, the Government published its Environmental Improvement Plan. This included a commitment for more joined up management of the water system. The current water and floods policy and legal framework has been developed incrementally over time, resulting in over 15 national plans and strategic documents. Whilst each plan has its own purpose, we want to make the whole framework more outcome-focussed and fully integrated with other environmental plans and government delivery plans. We reiterated this commitment in our landmark Plan for Water published in April 2023.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/04/2024 09:33:32 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696415

registered interest
date	15/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Tree Planting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress he has made on his targets on tree planting in (a) England and (b) Yorkshire; and what steps he is taking to measure progress on extending the canopy of the White Rose Forest.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18895
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2024 answer text <p>Last year we planted 3,600 hectares of new woodland and trees outside of woodland, this represents the highest planting rate for nearly a decade and an almost 40% increase on the previous year. This positive trend represents significant progress in achieving our targets and we have a strong pipeline for the next few years.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have regional targets for tree planting in England.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2020 and 2023 our Nature for Climate Fund has supported the White Rose Forest to plant 679 hectares of new trees and woodlands as part of England’s Community Forests Trees for Climate Programme. An additional 4.55 hectares plus 847 Standard Trees have been planted in the White Rose Forest under the Northern Forest Nature for Climate Grant between 2021 and 2023. With continued funding, the White Rose Forest is projected to plant significant additional hectares of woodland and numbers of standard trees this year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/03/2024 15:32:09 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696416

registered interest
date	15/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Tree Planting
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he is taking steps to use the Government's tree planting programme to tackle (a) flooding and (b) upper catchment management of rivers.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18896
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>Tree planting can help us meet a wide range of strategic objectives, including the 25 Year Environment Plan’s commitment to limit damage to rivers and the pledge to reduce flooding through natural flood management solutions.</p><p> </p><p>The England Woodland Creation Offer recognises the benefits of planting riparian buffers through specific Additional Contributions. These contributions support riparian tree planting, flood management and improved water quality.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also supporting woodland creation along rivers through the ‘Woodlands for Water’ project. This pilot project works with the Riverscapes Partnership to facilitate the creation of riparian woodland corridors in six river catchment areas.</p><p> </p><p>This year we are introducing an action into the Sustainable Farming Incentive for the management of habitat strips next to watercourses. This will support the planting of trees and scrub for biodiversity, flooding and water quality benefits.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 13/05/2024 10:41:22 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696154

registered interest
date	14/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Sewers: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) current and (b) future (i) capacity and (ii) performance of sewage and drainage infrastructure in (A) England and (B) York.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of having a robust capacity and performance for England’s sewage and drainage infrastructure, both now and into future. As part of the Environment Act 2021, a new duty has been created for water companies in England, including Yorkshire Water, to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. These plans will help sewerage companies to fully assess the capacity of the wastewater network and develop collaborative solutions to current problems and future issues. The plans will bring together various stakeholders including local authorities and industry regulators. Taking a longer-term strategic approach to drainage management, will help to identify and mitigate issues related to insufficient network capacity or damaged infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 21/03/2024 15:32:22 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696155

registered interest
date	14/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Sewers: Infrastructure
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that new (a) residential and (b) commercial developments do not overload local sewers.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government’s Plan for Water (2023) recognises Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) as a measure that reduces the risk of surface water flooding and has committed to rolling out SuDS in all new developments. Government is now looking at how best to implement, considering scope, threshold and process.</p><p> </p><p>This reduces the pressure on our traditional infrastructure by reducing the overall amount of water that ends up in the sewers and storm overflow discharges, mitigating flood risk and preventing pollution from untreated sewage ending up in our waterways.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 21/03/2024 14:56:50 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696156

registered interest
date	14/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Sewage: Rivers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of infrastructure in preventing sewage releases into rivers.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>Through the Government’s Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan, we have set stringent targets for water companies to reduce the use of storm overflows, driving the largest infrastructure programme in water company history of £60 billion over 25 years. We expect water companies to utilise a natural capital approach, considering carbon reduction and biodiversity net gain, as well as catchment level and nature-based solutions in their planning where possible.</p><p> </p><p>Water company investment in environmental improvements has been scaled up to £7.1 billion over the period 2020 – 25. This includes £3.1 billion invested in storm overflow improvements specifically. Moreover, we expect water companies to use the next five-year Price Review period (2025-2030) to set bold and ambitious plans that deliver for people and the environment.</p><p> </p><p>On 11 March, the Government announced additional fast-tracked investment of £180m over the next 12 months into improving sewer infrastructure. This is expected to prevent more than 8000 sewage spills polluting English waterways.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/03/2024 17:05:18 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1696157

registered interest
date	14/03/2024
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Sewage: Rivers
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to move water companies that do not restrict sewage spills under an operator of last resort.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	18740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>There is no operator of last resort for water companies. Ofwat monitors the performance and financial position of all water companies and publishes results on these annually. Ofwat will take action when water company performance is not at the level Government expect, or if their investors need to strengthen their long-term financial resilience.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is holding the water industry to account on a scale never seen before. We have legislated to introduce unlimited penalties on water companies who breach their environmental permits and expand the range of offences to which penalties can be applied. Furthermore, on 20 February, the Government and Environment Agency (EA) announced that they will quadruple the number of water company inspections to crack down on poor performing companies.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to hold water companies to account and if there are illegal breaches of permits, the regulators will not hesitate to take robust action.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/03/2024 16:09:36 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell