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1090992

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2019
	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	Disposable Wipes: Biodegradability
	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 the Government is taking to ban the marketing of single-use wipes as flushable if they do not conform to the Water UK approved fine to flush standard.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	233610
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the actions we will take to encourage producers to take more responsibility for the lifespan of their products and make sure these are more carefully designed with resource efficiency, and waste prevention in mind. This includes wet wipes.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is working with the water industry and wet wipe manufacturers to prevent wet wipes entering our waterways and damaging our marine environment. I hosted a cross industry wet wipes roundtable in November 2016, to tackle the issue of wipes being incorrectly flushed and causing sewer blockages. Following the meeting, revised wet wipe industry guidance requires a ‘Do Not Flush’ label to be displayed far more prominently on non-flushable wipes.</p><p> </p><p>We support the water industry’s ongoing work on their voluntary ‘Fine to Flush’ label, to ensure that any wipes which are marked as being ‘flushable’, are plastic free and are truly flushable, meaning they can enter the sewage system without causing blockages or harming the environment. We are actively encouraging the water and wet wipe industries to work together to develop an agreed ‘flushability’ standard for those wipes that are intended for disposal via toilets.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/03/2019 10:05:50 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

573431

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2016
	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	Seagulls
	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 her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of removing the protected status of seagulls in urban areas on local authorities' ability to manage seagull populations more effectively.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	44108
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2016 answer text <p>Defra has not undertaken such an assessment. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already allows for the control of gulls, under licence from Natural England, in the interest of public health and safety or to prevent disease. Local authorities, businesses and individuals are also able to take action to manage urban gull populations e.g. using bins with secured lids, ensuring domestic animals are not fed outside and that streets are clear of litter.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 07/09/2016 13:56:28 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

641348

	registered interest
	date	21/11/2016
	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	Clean Air Zones
	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 she will make it her policy to use revenues from clean air zones to promote cycling and walking and other healthy sustainable transport alternatives.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	53938
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/11/2016 answer text <p>It is already a requirement under the Transport Act 2000 that the net proceeds of any charging schemes made under the Act are only available to the local authority for the purpose of facilitating the achievement of its local transport policies. This can include the promotion of cycling and walking and other sustainable transport alternatives.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/11/2016 13:14:26 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

706208

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2017
	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	Beekeeping: Pest 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 has made an assessment of the efficiency of the reporting protocols for non-statutory notifiable pests in alerting beekeepers to their presence.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	65955
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2017 answer text <p>Our efforts are currently focused on the reporting of statutory bee pests and diseases such as the small hive beetle and European and American foulbrood. Details of outbreaks are provided on our online advice portal BeeBase, available for all registered beekeepers to see. Beekeepers within 3km of an outbreak are notified by email. Current levels of foulbrood across the country are at very low levels testifying to the success of this approach.</p><p> </p><p>We support beekeepers against non-notiable pests and diseases such as Varroa through our extensive training and inspection programme and through BeeBase. Guidance is provided on how to identify and manage their impacts ensuring healthier and more productive colonies. We do not currently notify beekeepers of local findings of these pests.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 07/03/2017 16:45:13 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

720279

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2017
	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: Cars
	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 powers local authorities have to tackle air pollution caused by idling cars near schools and other public areas.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	70478
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2017 answer text <p>The Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002 enable local authorities to issue £20 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) to drivers leaving engines running unnecessarily after being asked to turn off the engine. The decision to issue FPNs is at the discretion of local authorities, which may authorise any officer of the authority or any other person, to undertake this function.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities also have a statutory duty to publish air quality plans to demonstrate their efforts towards reducing local air pollution, including that caused by unnecessary engine idling.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 21/04/2017 11:21:03 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

874731

	registered interest
	date	29/03/2018
	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 Charges
	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 estimate his Department has made of the number of water companies that require consumers to pay bills up to a year in advance; and how that practice compares to other utility markets.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	135032
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/04/2018 answer text <p>We have not made an estimate of the number of water companies that require consumers to pay bills up to a year in advance. We have also not compared such a practice to other utility markets.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies use a variety of billing, payment and collection methods and can be flexible in their billing arrangements. However, they must be set within Ofwat’s (the independent water regulator) charging rules and guidelines. These rules include a requirement that companies give customers a reasonable choice as to the times and methods of payment of their charges. Customers should contact their water company to discuss their payment plan and the billing options they have.</p><p> </p><p>All companies offer a range of support to those household customers who may be struggling to pay their bill, including social tariffs, customer assistance funds, payment plans and information about water efficiency advice and products. Information is available on their websites or from the Consumer Council for Water.</p><p> </p><p>For business and other non-household customers who receive their water and wastewater services from a retailer, it is for individual retailers to decide which billing and collection methods they use. Retailers must comply with codes set by Ofwat and must inform customers of the type, frequency of bills and payment methods available. Business customers can discuss payment plans with their retail provider and can explore switching to another provider who may be more flexible with their billing arrangements. Not all retail providers will require payment in advance. Information about the business retail market can be found at <a href="https://www.open-water.org.uk/" target="_blank">https://www.open-water.org.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 16/04/2018 11:45:58 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

882177

	registered interest
	date	13/04/2018
	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	Plastic Bags: Charities
	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 discussions the Government has had with the charity sector on reducing the use of single-use plastic bags in door-to-door collections.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	135291
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2018 answer text <p>The Government has not had any discussions with the charity sector on reducing the use of single use plastic bags in door to door collections.</p><p> </p><p>Following a public consultation last year, the Fundraising Regulator has strengthened its Code of Practice, which requires charitable house to house collectors not to post collection bags to properties that indicate they do not wish to receive them, thus reducing the distribution of unwanted charity collection bags.</p><p>Charity textile collections offer a convenient way for people to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to the 650,000 tonnes of clothing reused or recycled which might otherwise be sent to landfill, while also benefiting charitable causes.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 20/04/2018 10:13:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk

990442

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2018
	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	Plastics: Packaging
	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 steps the Government has taken to encourage retailers to introduce plastic-free supermarket aisles.
	tabling member constituency	Cheltenham
	tabling member printed	Alex Chalk
	uin	181357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2018 answer text <p>The Government is currently working with retailers to encourage their efforts to reduce packaging waste and to explore the introduction of plastic-free supermarket initiatives in which all the food is loose, giving consumers the choice to make greener decisions.</p><p> </p><p>Packaging plays a valuable role in increasing shelf-life of many food items and therefore reduces food waste. However, there are likely to be opportunities where offering food loose may help to reduce plastic waste whilst not impacting on shelf life.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also looking at further ways to reduce avoidable waste and recycle more as part of its Resources and Waste Strategy to be published later this year.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 24/10/2018 10:00:58 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4481 label Biography information for Alex Chalk