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1092252

	registered interest
	date	20/03/2019
	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	Fly-grazing
	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 protect fly-grazed horses; and what support his Department provides to local authorities to help them enforce the Control of Horses Act 2015.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	234842
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra is keen to ensure that we uphold our high standards of welfare including in relation to fly-grazed horses.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Control of Horses Act 2015 introduced more flexible options for the management of fly-grazing and other abandoned horses and has been welcomed by landowners, local authorities, countryside bodies and animal welfare charities. The 2015 Act allows landowners, occupiers and local authorities to secure and if necessary remove horses unlawfully left on their land and take them immediately to a place of safety. The person detaining the horse must notify the local police within 24 hours of doing so, and if the horse’s owner can be identified, they must also be notified.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The 2015 Act provides flexibility, meaning that local authorities can use it in a way that meets their specific needs. We encourage all interested parties to work together at local level to use the available powers to address the challenge of abandoned horses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 26/03/2019 11:24:53 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1140605

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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	Birds: 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, whether he plans to include provisions in the proposed Environment Bill to tackle the use of netting on hedges, hedgerows and trees on development sites.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	279456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Bill measures are currently being finalised and will be published in due course.</p><p>On netting specifically, while it is not an offence to use netting to exclude birds from potential nesting sites, such action should only be used to help protect birds during development. It is for those who take exclusion measures to ensure the mesh size of netting is suitable for the species involved and is properly maintained so they don’t harm wild birds. We expect local planning authorities to look at these practices closely and take appropriate action where necessary.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 29/07/2019 16:20:38 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

790945

	registered interest
	date	16/11/2017
	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	Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease 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, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of using a risk-based approach to the control of bovine tuberculosis after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	113577
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2017 answer text <p>The Government’s strategy to eradicate bovine TB in England is based on a risk-based approach. We remain committed to rigorous implementation of the Strategy, while continually assessing the extent to which leaving the EU may provide additional opportunities.</p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 21/11/2017 13:50:10 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1690119

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2024
	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: 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, how many hectares of land have been protected for wildlife as a result of the Nutrient Mitigation Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	14725
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2024 answer text <p>Nutrient neutrality advice aims to halt further pollution of England’s most important protected waterways whose catchments cover an area of approximately 1.8m ha.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England has developed a Nutrient Mitigation Scheme that has so far secured approximately 257 ha of land to reduce nutrient pollution from new housing development. This land will also be managed for the purposes of nature conservation and, where appropriate, public access.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England is currently investigating other sites across England which, if considered feasible, would secure approximately 512 ha of land for the purposes of nutrient mitigation and nature recovery.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England aims to avoid the best and most versatile agricultural land when investing in nutrient mitigation projects.</p><p> </p><p>The nutrient mitigation scheme operates alongside a number of other providers of nutrient mitigation across England, including Local Authorities, environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, private markets and developers. Many of the solutions invested in by these providers <em>will be</em> nature-based and will not only reduce nutrient pollution but benefit nature and people.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 05/03/2024 16:54:38 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1688615

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2024
	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	Rodents: Animal Welfare
	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 he has made of the adequacy of legislation on the welfare of (a) pet and (b) wild rodents.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	13840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government continues to take positive action to protect the welfare of companion animals - including rabbits and pet rodents such as gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs. The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 regulations) require anyone who is in the business of selling rodents as pets to obtain a valid licence from their local authority.</p><p> </p><p>Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act), it is an offence to cause any animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare. The Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021 amended the 2006 Act to deliver the Government's manifesto commitment to increase the sentences available to our courts for the most serious cases of animal cruelty. Anyone who is cruel to an animal (including domestic rabbits and pet rodents) faces being sent to prison for up to five years, or receiving an unlimited fine, or both. This strengthened measure sends a clear message that animal cruelty will not be tolerated.</p><p> </p><p>Advice is available to educate pet owners on providing for the welfare needs of their pet, including fact sheets produced by the Royal Veterinary College.</p><p> </p><p>We also have legislation in place regarding the welfare of wild rodents. A number of native wild species of rodent such as Hazel Dormouse, Red Squirrel, and Water Vole are afforded full protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to intentionally: kill, injure or take them. The welfare of all rodents is protected under both the Wild Mammals Act 1996 which makes certain acts of deliberate harm illegal and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 which makes it unlawful for wild rodents to be subject to unnecessary suffering while under human control. Further to this, through the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, the Government is banning the use of glue traps in England in all but the most exceptional circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/02/2024 09:47:05 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1675089

	registered interest
	date	04/12/2023
	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	Hornets: 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, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the Asian Hornet on (a) honey bees and (b) other wild pollinators (i) since January 2023 and (ii) from January 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	Sarah Dyke
	uin	5049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the essential role played by honey bees and wild pollinators in our environment, acknowledging their contribution to crop pollination. Additionally, pollinators play a vital role in supporting the natural ecosystem.</p><p> </p><p>Asian hornets prey on honey bees and other pollinators so pose a significant threat to the pollination services that these insects provide. To date, rapid action has been taken in the UK to find and destroy Asian hornet nests. We would expect that there has been a localised impact on honey bee colonies and other pollinators. The Government remains committed to taking swift and effective contingency action against Asian hornet in 2024 thereby continuing to minimise the impacts on honey bees and other pollinators.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 11/12/2023 13:33:56 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4995 label Biography information for Sarah Dyke

1641216

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2023
	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: Somerset
	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 23rd May 2023 to Question 185044 on Flood Control: Somerset, what recent discussions she has had with the Environment Agency about introducing further measures to protect (a) houses and (b) the road network in East Somerset from future flash flooding caused by high rainfall.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	187255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2023 answer text <p>The significant rainfall event that occurred on 9 May in Somerset resulted in ‘flash flooding’ due to the intensity of rainfall that occurred in a very localised area, causing fluvial and surface water flooding.</p><p> </p><p>In England the Environment Agency (EA) has the strategic overview for flood risk and managing the risk from main rivers, reservoirs and the sea, and lead local flood authorities are responsible for local flood risk management, covering the risk of flooding from surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is acting to drive down flood risk from every angle. In March 2020 we announced a record £5.2 billion investment over six years in flood and coastal erosion schemes to better protect communities across England. Around half of the schemes funded by the programme will be delivered by the EA and half by other risk management authorities, such as lead local flood authorities. Schemes within this investment programme in the local area include: property flood resilience measures to be installed at residential properties in Isle Brewers, Nunney and Frome; pump replacements at the Huish, Long Load, Midleney &amp; Westover, pumping stations; and safety repairs at West Moor Reservoir.</p><p> </p><p>Following the 2021 flooding in Chard and Ilminster, the EA in collaboration with Somerset lead local flood authority has secured funding to undertake a number of strategic flood risk studies to identify longer term steps to better manage flood risk in these areas. This work is due to start this financial year.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 09/06/2023 11:52:27 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1627858

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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	Floods: Somerset
	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 (a) homes and (b) businesses in Somerset were affected by flooding in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Property Flooding Overview</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Properties Flooded</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>15</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>11</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>173</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>22</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>10</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>26</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>45</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>304</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>The above table shows the number of properties flooded during the last 10 years across both business and homes, and includes all sources of flooding – surface water, fluvial and coastal. The source of most of the data comes from Somerset Council report produced post flooding which is why the information is not split between homes and businesses. These reports are produced as part of the Flood &amp; Water Management Act 2010. The reports from 2022 have not yet been published, although the Environment Agency are not aware of any properties flooding in Somerset during 2022.</p><p> </p><p>For 2023 the Environment Agency estimated that 5 properties flooded in January and around 120 properties flooded in May, however they are working with Somerset Council to confirm exact numbers.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/05/2023 15:33:52 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1627860

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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: Somerset
	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 her Department has made of the resilience of flood protection measures in (a) Somerset, (b) East Somerset and (c) the River Cam catchment area during the winter of 2022–23.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>Much of Somerset is below sea level and many of its rivers are raised above the ground, so it will always be at risk of coastal and fluvial flooding. In January 2023, the Environment Agency put in place the largest temporary pumping operation in its history on the Somerset Levels and Moors. In combination with the innovative way water was managed through the system, this meant that on this occasion, widespread flooding of property was avoided.</p><p> </p><p>During the Spring, East Somerset has experienced some of the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the area. This has led to roads becoming unpassable, and in the case of the River Cam, around 100 houses flooding. In all cases, the flood protection measures performed as designed, but were overwhelmed by the volume and intensity of rainfall.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/05/2023 15:29:53 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1627857

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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: Somerset
	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 help ensure that Somerset is more resilient to future flood risk.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2023 answer text <p>Somerset has seen significant investment in recent years and has benefitted from the formation of the Somerset Rivers Authority partnership. Over £80 million of investment since 2014 in flood risk interventions helps the Environment Agency better manage flooding. It allows the Environment Agency to take pre-emptive action to delay the onset of flooding, to evacuate the waters more effectively. Together this enables communities to be more resilient and to recover more rapidly from flooding. The below investment was delivered in 2014/15:</p><ul><li>£6m on dredging, financed by DEFRA, delivered by the Environment Agency</li><li>£20m on raising roads and drainage improvements financed by Department of Transport delivered by Somerset County Council</li><li>£20m on repairing flood damage to assets from Defra Flood defence grant-in-aid</li><li>£13m on improvements to the Sowy and Kings Sedgemoor Drain from Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership</li><li>£3.5m on Pumping station extra capacity and improvements at Aller and Westonzoyland</li><li>£500k improvements to the Parrett and Tone hydraulic model.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency are continuing to invest in Somerset, this includes maintaining existing defences and also helping communities to adapt and become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Ongoing investment includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Bridgwater Tidal Barrier scheme – investment of over £128m – Operational barrier by 2026.</li><li>Dunball Sluice refurbishment – total investment of around £3.6m. Delivery by 2024</li><li>Pumping Station upgrades – Project to invest around £5.5m. Complete by 2025</li><li>Reservoir improvement investment (public safety) – Investment Program of £19m – Delivery complete by 2027</li><li>Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements – Council have agreed £6m funding in 3 interventions:</li></ul><p>1. River Tone left bank defence improvements, Frieze Hill to Town Bridge</p><p>2. Raising of Firepool lockgate and defences between the River Tone and the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal (TTC10)</p><p>3. Longrun Meadows - optimising flood water storage.</p><p> </p><p>Communities in Ilminster, Chard and Minehead are also benefitting from recently approved investment to help reduce flood risk. The Environment Agency and Somerset Council have secured funding from the Frequently Flooded Allowance fund to carry out investigative studies on what future flood risk interventions are required.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/05/2023 10:31:56 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton