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535227

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Agriculture: Digital Technology
	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 her Department has made on supporting access to mobile digital technology for farmers.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	42285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>Improving mobile connectivity across the country is a key priority for the Government. Defra works closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on this, with a key focus on rural and hard to reach areas. Defra Ministers are directly involved through meetings with DCMS Ministers and the Digital Implementation Taskforce.</p><p>4G mobile rollout in the UK has been one of the fastest in Europe; 90% of premises now have 4G coverage from at least one operator. Two legally binding licence obligations will help deliver improved mobile coverage across the UK. Telefonica will provide indoor 4G coverage to 98% of UK premises by the end of 2017. This complements the obligation on each of the UK’s four mobile network operators to provide voice and text coverage to at least 90% of UK landmass, also by the end of 2017.</p><p>To facilitate rollout, the Government is reforming the Electronic Communications Code to make it cheaper for the industry to provide coverage and is introducing reforms to the planning regime to allow, amongst other things, taller masts and to enable upgrades of communications infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:49:29 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

535229

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to improve air quality.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	42282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>The national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide, published in December last year, set out a range of measures that we are implementing to improve air quality. In the plan the Government announced that we will be mandating the introduction of Clean Air Zones in five key cities (Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton). We will be consulting later this year on a Clean Air Zone framework, to provide consistency and certainty, together with draft secondary legislation to mandate the implementation of Clean Air Zones.</p><p>Later this year, Defra will also consult on proposals to reduce pollution from electricity generating plants with high nitrogen oxide emissions that are not currently regulated. The proposals would extend set emission limit values on relevant air pollutants, with a view to having legislation in force no later than January 2019, and possibly sooner.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:42:32 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

533593

	registered interest
	date	07/07/2016
	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: Greater London
	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 work with the Mayor of London to improve air quality in London.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	42204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>The National Air Quality Plan for nitrogen dioxide, published in December last year, sets out a comprehensive approach for meeting the air quality challenges by implementing a new programme of Clean Air Zones, along with the Ultra-Low Emission Zone in London. The Plan combines targeted local and national measures, forming part of a wider approach that exploits new and clean technologies, such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed over £2 billion since 2011 to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support green transport initiatives and support local authorities to take action.</p><p> </p><p>The Mayor 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.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 15:56:55 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

533368

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2016
	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, how much her Department has spent on preventing the spread of ash dieback disease since that disease was first detected in the UK; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	42034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>We are monitoring and managing ash dieback and have invested over £4 million into surveillance and research.</p><p> </p><p>Our surveillance programme involving Government, industry, conservation groups and the public, enables us to monitor the disease and to target resources effectively.</p><p> </p><p>Investing in research on the development of tolerant trees is one of our key commitments in response to the disease. Ash trees have a very wide genetic diversity and have the potential for great levels of resistance compared to other tree species that have been affected by diseases.</p><p> </p><p>The Government-funded research and screening trial of 155,000 ash saplings is unprecedented in its scope. It has now identified native ash trees that show tolerance to ash dieback, raising the possibility of using selective breeding to develop strains of trees that are tolerant to the disease.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 14:11:19 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

535244

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Beach Huts: Christchurch
	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 the application by Christchurch Borough Council to Natural England for SSSI consent for the development of beach huts at Highcliffe, Christchurch was withdrawn; and what costs have been incurred by Natural England in connection with that application.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
	uin	42458
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>The application for SSSI consent was withdrawn on 6 July. At that point, the cost to Natural England was for staff costs only.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:45:05 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

535238

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Birds of Prey: Conservation
	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 has taken to protect birds of prey.
	tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
	tabling member printed	Andy Slaughter
	uin	42443
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which provides a powerful framework for the conservation of wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitats. The Government is committed to ensuring the protection afforded to wild birds of prey is effectively enforced. There are strong penalties for offenders, including imprisonment.</p><p> </p><p>Raptor persecution is one of six national wildlife crime priorities and is subject to a prevention, intelligence and enforcement plan.</p><p> </p><p>The National Wildlife Crime Unit, which is part funded by Defra, monitors and gathers intelligence on illegal activities affecting birds of prey and provides assistance to police forces when required.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:47:09 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

535243

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Flood Control: Ribble Valley
	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 she has made of the cost of implementing long-term flood defence systems in areas vulnerable to flooding in Ribble Valley.
	tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
	tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
	uin	42428
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>A scheme to better protect the Preston and South Ribble area from fluvial and tidal flood risk is at an estimated cost of £32 million, with an allocation of £8 million Flood Defence Grant in Aid within the current six year capital investment programme. The difference is being sought through partnership contributions and through Flood Defence Grant in Aid allocations beyond the current six year capital investment programme.</p><p> </p><p>A scheme to protect Clitheroe from flooding from Mearley Brook would cost £4.8 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and is subject to an ongoing bid for funding.</p><p> </p><p>A future scheme to protect Whalley from flooding from the River Calder would cost approximately £1.4 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and the Environment Agency is currently evaluating the scheme prior to any funding bid.</p><p> </p><p>Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington.</p><p> </p><p>Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder catchment which will develop options and estimated costs to address the main river flooding. The Environment Agency aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence, which will include an evaluation of future costs.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:48:59 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

535231

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Mersey Forest
	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 her policy is on supporting Mersey Forest in its aim to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent of the Mersey Forest area.
	tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
	tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
	uin	42418
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>We certainly support this partnership of local authorities with organisations in the Defra Group, and its aim to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent of the Mersey Forest area. This supports our national commitment to plant 11 million more trees by the end of this Parliament and to continue to expand woodland cover in England.</p><p> </p><p>The Mersey Forest partnership has transformed the Mersey area since it was set up in 1991. It has planted 9 million trees and doubled woodland cover in the area, providing great places for local people to enjoy as well as a wide range of economic and environmental benefits. The Mersey Forest is one of eight Community Forests in England that together deliver urban, economic and social regeneration, helping to transform areas that have seen significant industrial restructuring, by reclaiming brownfield land to create high-quality environments for millions of people. This wider network of Community Forests has planted over 10,000 hectares of new woodland and brought more than 27,000 hectares of existing woodland into management.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst it is for the constituent local authorities to agree their ongoing commitment, Defra Group organisations will continue to support Mersey Forest in its ambition to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:51:36 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

535224

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2016
	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	Natura 2000
	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 that the Natura 2000 network of protected conservation areas in the UK will (a) continue to have the same level or stronger protection than they now have under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and (b) remain part of the Emerald Network under the Bern Convention regardless of the outcome of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	42311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for our environment remain in place.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will wish to consider the Impacts of the decision to leave the EU, including for the UK’s Natura 2000 and other protected sites, We have a manifesto commitment to produce a 25 Year Plan for the Environment. We all now have an opportunity to consider our long-term vision for the environment following the referendum vote.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 12:56:58 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas