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535521

	registered interest
	date	12/07/2016
	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	Lake Windermere: Speed Limits
	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 plans her Department has to review the speed limit on Lake Windermere.
	tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
	tabling member printed	Tim Farron
	uin	42480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2016 answer text <p>The speed limit on Lake Windermere is governed by local byelaws. It is for the relevant authority, in this case, the Lake District National Park Authority, to make any changes to the current speed limit, if they consider it necessary. The Secretary of State has no powers in this matter unless the authority makes changes to the current byelaws and submits them for confirmation.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/07/2016 10:55:49 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

536139

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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 Poverty
	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 she is taking to support households which are in water poverty.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	42633
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2016 answer text <p>Water companies already offer a wide range of support to around 760,000 customers that struggle to pay their water bills. By 2020, they have committed to help an additional one million customers. The support they offer includes the nationally mandated WaterSure Scheme, voluntary social tariffs, charitable trusts, debt advice, payment plans and water efficiency advice.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to supporting a water industry built around transparency, resilience and affordability. We will continue to work with the Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat and the industry to ensure they continue to provide a fair deal for all customers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 18/07/2016 10:57:42 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

536268

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2016
	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	Ash Dieback Disease
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2016 to Question 42035, how many projects her Department jointly funded to look into the ecological value of ash dieback; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	42704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/07/2016 answer text <p>Defra funded a number of research projects in response to ash dieback, including two research projects to assess the ecological impacts of the disease on woodlands and other species. These have now been published and are available on the Defra science website:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&amp;Module=More&amp;Location=None&amp;ProjectID=18994&amp;FromSearch=Y&amp;Publisher=1&amp;SearchText=ash%20dieback&amp;SortString=ProjectCode&amp;SortOrder=Asc&amp;Paging=10%23Description%20" target="_blank">http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&amp;Module=More&amp;Location=None&amp;ProjectID=18994&amp;FromSearch=Y&amp;Publisher=1&amp;SearchText=ash%20dieback&amp;SortString=ProjectCode&amp;SortOrder=Asc&amp;Paging=10#Description</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&amp;Module=More&amp;Location=None&amp;Completed=0&amp;ProjectID=19187" target="_blank">http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&amp;Module=More&amp;Location=None&amp;Completed=0&amp;ProjectID=19187</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 20/07/2016 14:34:50 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

536426

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Alternative Fuels: Excise Duties
	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 recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the Alternative Fuels Framework on implementation of the Government's Clean Air Zone initiative.
	tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
	tabling member printed	Royston Smith
	uin	42861
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>Clean Air Zones are part of a range of measures to improve air quality as set out in the revised national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide, published in December 2015.</p><p> </p><p>The national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide sets out a comprehensive approach to improving air quality and reducing impacts on health. It recognises the use of alternative fuels such as liquefied petroleum gas and liquefied and compressed natural gas and where appropriate it presents opportunities to improve emissions from vehicles. The plan sets out some of the measures we are taking to support innovation in this area.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to review evidence concerning the environmental impact of alternative fuels, with any changes to the tax treatment of alternative fuels announced at fiscal events.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 21/07/2016 16:58:37 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

536438

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Lighting
	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 her Department is taking to encourage local authorities to tackle light pollution and help protect dark skies in their areas.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	42831
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government is taking a number of steps to encourage local authorities to address light pollution.</p><p> </p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework includes consideration of the impact of light pollution on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation. The Department for Communities and Local Government has also published additional guidance setting out when light pollution is relevant to planning, which the Government asks all local authorities to have regard to when considering planning decisions: <a href="http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/light-pollution/" target="_blank">http://planningguidance.communities.gov.uk/blog/guidance/light-pollution/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Other Government action includes encouragement for local authorities to introduce LED street lighting where it is economically feasible to do so, in order to reduce glare. Defra has also supported applications from National Parks, such as Exmoor and South Downs, to become International Dark Sky Parks or Reserves.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/07/2016 11:08:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

536452

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Lighting: Pollution Control
	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 she plans to include measures to protect and improve England's dark skies in the Government's 25-year plan for the natural environment.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	42828
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text <p>The Government remains committed to developing a long term, 25-year plan for the environment. Following the decision to leave the EU, we now have a fresh opportunity to shape a long-term vision for the type of environment we want in this country. As part of this we will be looking across the breadth of environmental challenges.</p><p>Developing our approach to the environment will need to be informed by significant input from interested parties across many sectors. Further information on the next steps and timings will be provided in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/07/2016 16:49:53 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

536453

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Environment Protection
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to publish the Government's 25-year plan for the natural environment.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	42844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government remains committed to developing a long term, 25-year plan for the environment. Following the decision to leave the EU, we now have a fresh opportunity to shape a long-term vision for the type of environment we want in this country.</p><p> </p><p>Developing our approach to the environment will need to be informed by significant input from interested parties across many sectors. Further information on the next steps and timings will be provided in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/07/2016 11:22:14 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

536454

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Ash Dieback Disease
	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 funding her Department is making available to replace trees that die of ash dieback disease.
	tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
	tabling member printed	Oliver Colvile
	uin	42845
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2016 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission provides advice to woodland managers about how best to manage and adapt to ash dieback, for example by planting a variety of tree species as diversity brings resilience to pests and diseases.</p><p> </p><p>Support is available for some landowners for the replacement of infected ash trees with alternative species in woodland situations under the Countryside Stewardship scheme, subject to grant conditions being met.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is not encouraging felling of large infected ash trees as they can survive dieback for many years. They continue to provide recreational and biodiversity benefits as well as a vital role in protecting our environment through use in flood control measures.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 21/07/2016 15:00:56 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4022 label Biography information for Oliver Colvile

536455

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Air Pollution
	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 her Department is taking in response to the findings of the World Health Organisation's report, entitled WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database 2016, on levels of safe air quality being exceeded at (a) Port Talbot, (b) Stanford-le-Hope, (c) Glasgow, (d) London, (e) Scunthorpe, (f) Leeds, (g) Eastbourne, (h) Nottingham, (i) Southampton and (j) Oxford.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	42860
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) 2016 update of its Urban Ambient Air Pollution database found 10 areas in the UK fail to meet WHO standards on particulate matter (PM): Port Talbot, Stanford-le-Hope, Glasgow, London, Scunthorpe, Leeds, Eastbourne, Nottingham, Southampton and Oxford.</p><p> </p><p>Latest compliance data show that the UK is meeting the EU daily and annual mean limits for PM concentrations. We continue to monitor compliance with PM limits and work in partnership with local authorities in these areas and across the UK to explore options to reduce PM concentrations further.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities have a crucial role to play in improving air quality in their areas. Under the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) system, local authorities are required to review and assess air quality in their areas and to designate Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) and put in place Air Quality Action Plans (AQAP) to address air pollution issues where national air quality objectives are not being met. The LAQM system encourages local authorities to focus on local hotspots and to deploy resources and actions quickly to achieve cleaner air in their area.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently 25 AQMAs declared in the Greater London area for PM exceedances. Both Glasgow and Scunthorpe have one AQMA each declared for PM exceedances. All these AQMAs were declared before 2011 and all are still in place, with relevant AQAPs to address the issue. There are currently no PM related AQMAs in Port Talbot, Stanford-le-Hope, Leeds, Eastbourne, Nottingham, Southampton and Oxford.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s ambition is for the UK to have the best natural environment anywhere. Clean air is an essential part of that ambition. In December last year, the Government published the national air quality plan for reducing nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) concentrations through a new programme of Clean Air Zones in five cities in England, including Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton, as well as Birmingham and Derby along with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London. The plan combines targeted local and national measures and continued investment in clean technologies. These measures will also reduce PM concentrations.</p><p> </p><p>The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality standards in London. The Mayor provides the framework and guidance which London boroughs use to review and improve air quality within their areas. The new Mayor recently set out his plans to improve air quality in London, and on 5 July launched a formal policy consultation on a package of measures to tackle air pollution in London.</p><p> </p><p>In the UK, air quality is devolved and Defra works in close partnership with the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure the UK remains compliant with EU air quality standards.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/07/2016 16:34:21 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

536456

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2016
	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	Food: Waste
	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 assessment she has made of the potential (a) merits and (b) effectiveness of introducing voluntary targets to reduce food waste in (i) households, (ii) businesses and (iii) public bodies.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	42857
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2016 answer text <p>Targets within our voluntary agreements with businesses such as the Courtauld Commitment with the grocery sector have been very effective in helping businesses and households to reduce food waste, make associated financial savings and deliver carbon savings and other environmental benefits. Local authorities have also benefited through reduced household waste disposal costs.</p><p> </p><p>Household food waste has reduced by 15% between 2007 and 2012 despite an increase of 4% in the number of households in the UK. This reduction alone has avoided 18Mt of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Supply chain food and packaging waste reduced by 7.4% between 2009 and 2012, with interim results for Courtauld 3 showing a further 3.2% reduction in food waste by 2014.</p><p> </p><p>We want to do more to build on the success of the voluntary approach. The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) therefore launched Courtauld 2025 on 15 March this year. This is a commitment by stakeholders across the UK food and drink system – including hospitality and food service businesses, retailers, food manufacturers and local authorities - and includes a voluntary target of a 20% reduction in food and drink waste arising in the UK. According to WRAP’s analysis, reaching this level of reduction would deliver an estimated £20bn savings to the UK economy, including £4bn savings to businesses (with the majority of savings benefitting householders).</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/07/2016 11:11:01 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell