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759697

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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	Pollinators: Monitoring
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government's National Pollinator Strategy, published in November 2014, what progress has been made on developing a pollinator indicator under the planned Biodiversity 2020 monitoring strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>The National Pollinator Strategy was launched in November 2014 and included commitments on measuring progress by developing an indicator on the status of pollinators and by evaluating Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and agri-environment schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has developed an indicator of the status of pollinating insects in partnership with the research community and the voluntary sector. The indicator was first published in 2014 and integrated into the suite of 24 indicators used to track progress with Biodiversity 2020: our Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services. The indicator summarises trends for almost 400 pollinating insect species and was last published on3 August (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators</a>). It shows that the overall status of pollinating insects has declined since 1980. There are, however, early indications that this trend may have stabilised in recent years. We will continue to take action for pollinators as set out in our Pollinator Strategy and encourage others to do the same through our Bees’ Needs campaign.</p><p> </p><p>The monitoring and evaluation framework for NIAs was updated in 2014 and included two voluntary indicators on population of threatened or widespread species, including a number of pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>A report on monitoring and evaluation of NIAs was published in 2015 (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme</a>). This found no significant change in any of the species indicators in the NIAs over the short period involved. Collectively, however, the 12 NIAs secured beneficial management on over 13,500 ha of important wildlife habitats and put in place action to create 4,500 ha of new habitats, primarily species rich grasslands and heathland which will provide important sources of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>For agri-environment schemes, Natural England has a contract in place with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Trust for Ornithology to provide a landscape-scale evaluation of the impact of Countryside Stewardship in England on mobile species, including pollinators. Initial findings are expected in 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015, we have initiated a pollinator monitoring and research partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to strengthen pollinator monitoring across Great Britain and improve our capacity to understand trends in pollination services. Details of the partnership are available on the external Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 10162 question first answered 20/09/2017 14:54:11 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

759701

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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	Drinks: Plastics
	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 retailers and food outlets to eliminate the use of plastic straws.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10131
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The impact of single-use plastics is a critical concern for Defra and I have praised outlets that have switched to using plant based drinking straws and those that have stopped automatically providing straws. The extent of single-use plastics needs to be addressed and options for engagement with key stakeholders are being drawn up, for example in relation to developing a renewed strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead at opportunities outside the EU. These will include discussions with leading retailers.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 10132 question first answered 09/10/2017 10:22:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

759700

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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	Drinks: Plastics
	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 promote the use of drinking straws made from non-polluting materials.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10132
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The impact of single-use plastics is a critical concern for Defra and I have praised outlets that have switched to using plant based drinking straws and those that have stopped automatically providing straws. The extent of single-use plastics needs to be addressed and options for engagement with key stakeholders are being drawn up, for example in relation to developing a renewed strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead at opportunities outside the EU. These will include discussions with leading retailers.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 10131 question first answered 09/10/2017 10:22:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

759704

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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	Pollinators: Monitoring
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 32 of the National Pollinator Strategy, published by his Department in November 2014, what progress has been made on extending the monitoring and evaluation framework for nature improvement areas to include pollinators.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2017 answer text <p>The National Pollinator Strategy was launched in November 2014 and included commitments on measuring progress by developing an indicator on the status of pollinators and by evaluating Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and agri-environment schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has developed an indicator of the status of pollinating insects in partnership with the research community and the voluntary sector. The indicator was first published in 2014 and integrated into the suite of 24 indicators used to track progress with Biodiversity 2020: our Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services. The indicator summarises trends for almost 400 pollinating insect species and was last published on3 August (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators</a>). It shows that the overall status of pollinating insects has declined since 1980. There are, however, early indications that this trend may have stabilised in recent years. We will continue to take action for pollinators as set out in our Pollinator Strategy and encourage others to do the same through our Bees’ Needs campaign.</p><p> </p><p>The monitoring and evaluation framework for NIAs was updated in 2014 and included two voluntary indicators on population of threatened or widespread species, including a number of pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>A report on monitoring and evaluation of NIAs was published in 2015 (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme</a>). This found no significant change in any of the species indicators in the NIAs over the short period involved. Collectively, however, the 12 NIAs secured beneficial management on over 13,500 ha of important wildlife habitats and put in place action to create 4,500 ha of new habitats, primarily species rich grasslands and heathland which will provide important sources of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>For agri-environment schemes, Natural England has a contract in place with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Trust for Ornithology to provide a landscape-scale evaluation of the impact of Countryside Stewardship in England on mobile species, including pollinators. Initial findings are expected in 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015, we have initiated a pollinator monitoring and research partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to strengthen pollinator monitoring across Great Britain and improve our capacity to understand trends in pollination services. Details of the partnership are available on the external Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 10029 question first answered 20/09/2017 14:54:11 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

759702

	registered interest
	date	12/09/2017
	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	Pollinators
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to page 32 of the National Pollinator Strategy, published by his Department in November 2014, what interim measurements of progress against the aims of that strategy have so far been made.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol West
	tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
	uin	10174
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>The National Pollinator Strategy was launched in November 2014 and included commitments on measuring progress by developing an indicator on the status of pollinators and by evaluating Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) and agri-environment schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has developed an indicator of the status of pollinating insects in partnership with the research community and the voluntary sector. The indicator was first published in 2014 and integrated into the suite of 24 indicators used to track progress with Biodiversity 2020: our Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services. The indicator summarises trends for almost 400 pollinating insect species and was last published on 3 August (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators</a>). It shows that the overall status of pollinating insects has declined since 1980. There are, however, early indications that this trend may have stabilised in recent years. We will continue to take action for pollinators as set out in our Pollinator Strategy and encourage others to do the same through our Bees’ Needs campaign.</p><p> </p><p>The monitoring and evaluation framework for NIAs was updated in 2014 and included two voluntary indicators on population of threatened or widespread species, including a number of pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>A report on monitoring and evaluation of NIAs was published in 2015 (<a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/nature-improvement-areas-improved-ecological-networks/nature-improvement-areas-about-the-programme</a>). This found no significant change in any of the species indicators in the NIAs over the short period involved. Collectively, however, the 12 NIAs secured beneficial management on over 13,500 ha of important wildlife habitats and put in place action to create 4,500 ha of new habitats, primarily species rich grasslands and heathland which will provide important sources of pollen and nectar for pollinating insects.</p><p> </p><p>For agri-environment schemes, Natural England has a contract in place with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the British Trust for Ornithology to provide a landscape-scale evaluation of the impact of Countryside Stewardship in England on mobile species, including pollinators. Initial findings are expected in 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2015, we have initiated a pollinator monitoring and research partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, to strengthen pollinator monitoring across Great Britain and improve our capacity to understand trends in pollination services. Details of the partnership are available on the external Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/10/2017 11:43:29 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

732627

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	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	Nitrous Oxide: EU Law
	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 his Department has made for the length of time it will take for air quality to comply with EU nitrous oxide regulations; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	1032
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>This will, in part, depend on the content of the Government’s final air quality plan. The Government recently consulted on a draft air quality plan setting out our approach to reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>) to within legal limits in the shortest possible time. The draft is available at: consult.defra.gov.uk/airquality/air-quality-plan-for-tackling-nitrogen-dioxide.</p><p> </p><p>The final plan will be published by 31 July.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/06/2017 15:14:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

732628

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	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	Nitrous Oxide: EU Law
	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 court costs for the air quality compliance cases brought by ClientEarth; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	1033
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2017 answer text <p>Defra estimates that the legal fees incurred by the Government to defend the litigation brought by ClientEarth are around £310,000. The case is ongoing and so further costs are likely to be incurred.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/06/2017 15:17:14 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

760237

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2017
	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	Birds of Prey: Tagging
	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 publish all the satellite tracking data of electronically tagged hen harriers collected by Natural England and its predecessor since 2002.
	tabling member constituency	Penistone and Stocksbridge
	tabling member printed	Angela Smith
	uin	10497
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2017 answer text <p>Natural England is currently collating the satellite tracking data on hen harriers from both before and since 2002. Natural England plans to publish the information shortly. There is also an independent analysis of all the satellite tracking data being undertaken, which is due for publication in spring 2018.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/10/2017 10:52:23 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1564 label Biography information for Angela Smith

760674

	registered interest
	date	14/09/2017
	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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Chief Scientific Advisers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department have had with the Chief Scientific Adviser in his Department in the last three months.
	tabling member constituency	North Norfolk
	tabling member printed	Norman Lamb
	uin	105204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/10/2017 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministers of his department meet regularly with departmental advisers, including the department’s Chief Scientific Adviser. Over a three month period, this covers a number of meetings varying in scope and personnel, and the department does not hold a central list of all such meetings.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/10/2017 12:53:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb

760960

	registered interest
	date	14/09/2017
	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	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 measures he has put in place to deal with trends in the level of personal debts to water companies after the introduction of universal credit; and what plans he has to introduce a mandatory social tariff to help customers who cannot afford their water bills.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	105260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/10/2017 answer text <p>Water companies have in place a number of measures to support those customers who are in debt or may be struggling to pay their water bill. The support offered can vary but includes short term concessions such as payment holidays or crisis breaks, debt write-off schemes, charitable trust grants and social tariffs.</p><p> </p><p>All water companies have put in place social tariffs that provide a discounted bill to qualifying customers. This follows guidance issued by the Government in 2012 that encourages water companies to develop social tariff schemes in consultation with their customers. The Government believes that companies are best placed to develop social tariffs to reflect local needs and views.</p><p> </p><p>WaterSure is a national mandated tariff that all water companies have to provide to qualifying customers. The aim is to support metered customers on a low income who have unavoidably high water use either for health reasons or because they have 3 or more children.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently, the Government has introduced data sharing provisions under the Digital Economy Act that will enable water companies to better identify those customers who may need help paying their water bill.</p><p> </p><p>The Consumer Council for Water offers support and advice to all customers of water companies. This includes advice about organisations and charities who may be able to offer them a grant to help them out of debt.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 13/10/2017 11:39:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew