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1381188

	registered interest
	date	23/11/2021
	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	Zane Gbangbola
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on how many occasions he has discussed the death of Zane Gbangbola with the Environment Agency.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	80462
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2021 answer text <p>Whilst neither I, nor Defra ministerial colleagues, have discussed the death of Zane Gbangbola with the Environment Agency, Defra group officials have discussed the case on many occasions and have briefed Minsters.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/11/2021 14:51:46 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1546534

	registered interest
	date	29/11/2022
	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	Zane Gbangbola
	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 an assessment of the potential merits of ordering an Independent Panel Inquiry into the death of Zane Gbangbola during the floods in February 2014.
	tabling member constituency	Spelthorne
	tabling member printed	Kwasi Kwarteng
	uin	98840
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2022 answer text <p>The Surrey Senior Coroner has carried out a full investigation into the sad circumstances surrounding Zane Gbangbola's death, taking into account a considerable amount of evidence. The Coroner, as an independent judicial office holder, drew his own conclusions based on this evidence.</p><p>If there is a belief that the evidence was not considered properly during the original inquest, or that there is new evidence available, an application can be made to the Attorney General asking her to apply to the High Court to quash the inquest and order a fresh investigation. The High Court would take this course of action if it believed that it would be in the interests of justice. We are not aware that any such application has been made.</p><p>I believe that this remains the proper process to follow. An assessment of the merits of an inquiry should be made at the appropriate time if, and when, the legal processes have been exhausted.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 07/12/2022 12:38:35 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4134 label Biography information for Kwasi Kwarteng

1676534

	registered interest
	date	08/12/2023
	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	Woodlands
	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 hold discussions with the Forestry Commission on promoting woodland creation.
	tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
	tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
	uin	5935
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2023 answer text <p>Woodland creation is regularly discussed between the Forestry Commission and the Forestry Minister on behalf of the Secretary of State.</p><p> </p><p>The Forestry Commission continues to keep Defra ministers up to date on the progress of woodland creation. Defra and Forestry Commission officials meet regularly to coordinate efforts to promote the creation of woodlands, supporting schemes such as the Forestry Commission’s flagship England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).</p><p> </p><p>EWCO and Woodland Creation Planning Grant will transition to become part of the Countryside Stewardship scheme – one of the new environmental land management schemes. The future Countryside Stewardship woodland creation offer will largely mirror the EWCO offer.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/12/2023 17:05:55 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

1288276

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	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	Woodhouse Colliery
	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 he has made of the potential effect of the Woodhouse Colliery project on the UK's Paris Climate Agreement obligations.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
	uin	156422
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2021 answer text <p>The UK has been leading internationally on the phase out of (unabated) coal fired power generation through its co-leadership of the Powering Past Coal Alliance which has now grown to over 100 members. Through our work under the COP26 Energy Transition Campaign, the UK has been playing a leading role in driving the global transition from coal fired power generation to clean energy. The UK is also working internationally, including through its leadership of Mission Innovation, the global initiative working to accelerate clean energy <em>innovation</em>. As part of this we are developing technology solutions that will enable more rapid decarbonisation of the industrial sector and only a few months ago we ended direct government support for the fossil fuel energy sector overseas.</p><p> </p><p>As this is a live litigation matter it would not be appropriate to comment on the application.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 02/03/2021 14:51:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1273805

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2021
	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	Wood-burning Stoves: 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 recent assessment his Department has made of the effect of domestic wood burners on levels of particle pollution.
	tabling member constituency	Newport West
	tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
	uin	134125
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/01/2021 answer text <p>National Statistics regarding emissions of air pollutants in the UK are published annually at the following URL: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Femissions-of-air-pollutants&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca0b3128249ce4951abec08d8b3bd4381%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637456972758143427%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=rw9DxxIiXZ4JVBzXhRmkNV9Wmo949ou%2BLgdEiTa5Jy0%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/emissions-of-air-pollutants</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest statistics estimated 38 per cent of primary emissions of PM <sub>2.5</sub> in the UK came from domestic wood burning sources in 2018. There is an increasing trend in emissions from this source over time. Defra also publishes national statistics on air quality as measured by the national network of air quality monitoring stations; the latest statistics report gives domestic solid fuel burning as a reason for the greatest concentrations of PM <sub>2.5</sub> recorded in the evenings and at weekends. The URL for these statistics is: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fstatistics%2Fair-quality-statistics&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca0b3128249ce4951abec08d8b3bd4381%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637456972758153424%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=522qKg9ZLU02zde4YZh34obxUw9h9tAR1mi3a9z89vg%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/air-quality-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>Defra recently published final reports from research to understand burning in UK homes and gardens, which expands the evidence base on solid fuel appliances and how households operate them. The research is published at the following URL: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fsciencesearch.defra.gov.uk%2FDefault.aspx%3FMenu%3DMenu%26Module%3DMore%26Location%3DNone%26ProjectID%3D20159%26FromSearch%3DY%26Publisher%3D1%26SearchText%3DAQ1017%26SortString%3DProjectCode%26SortOrder%3DAsc%26Paging%3D10&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cemma.pryor%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca0b3128249ce4951abec08d8b3bd4381%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637456972758163416%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=66U0%2BDxpQrwW4clIWricmXqAXEEMWNBBKgZT6oVZdn4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&amp;Module=More&amp;Location=None&amp;ProjectID=20159&amp;FromSearch=Y&amp;Publisher=1&amp;SearchText=AQ1017&amp;SortString=ProjectCode&amp;SortOrder=Asc&amp;Paging=10</a></p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 15/01/2021 11:22:04 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1287381

	registered interest
	date	19/02/2021
	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	Wood-burning Stoves: 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 his Department plans to (a) increase (a) regulation and (b) powers of enforcement to restrict and reduce the use of wood burning stoves in private properties where the emissions are shown to contribute to poor air quality.
	tabling member constituency	Gateshead
	tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
	uin	154986
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>Domestic solid fuel burning is a major contributor to fine particulate matter emissions and, in line with our Clean Air Strategy, we recently introduced new legislation to restrict the sale of the most polluting solid fuels used in domestic burning. The aim of this legislation is to drive a transition to cleaner fuels: from wet wood to dry wood (which can reduce emissions by 50%), and from traditional house coal to smokeless coal and low sulphur manufactured solid fuels. We will also be ensuring that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Environment Bill contains measures to help further reduce emissions from domestic burning by creating a simpler mechanism for local authorities seeking to reduce smoke emissions within their areas.</p><p> </p><p>My department will continue to review emissions from these sources and will monitor the impact of the new legislation, considering in due course any additional legislative measures that may be needed to reduce emission levels further.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 01/03/2021 16:55:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1175939

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2020
	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	Wood-burning Stoves
	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 wood burning stoves on air quality.
	tabling member constituency	Twickenham
	tabling member printed	Munira Wilson
	uin	12327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>Defra assesses air quality in the UK through a combination of monitoring and modelling, as well as through the development and upkeep of a National Atmospheric Emissions inventory (NAEI). The NAEI is compiled annually to report total emissions by pollutant and source sector in a systematic way, and to facilitate compliance with our emissions reduction targets.</p><p> </p><p>Emissions from domestic combustion using wood as fuel have increased by 70 per cent since 2005. As recognised by the Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants, particulate matter is particularly harmful for health and the environment. The most recently published data from the NAEI shows that domestic combustion using wood as fuel accounted for 36 per cent of primary emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 2017. We will publish the next annual update of the NAEI, with data for 2018, in the coming weeks.</p><p> </p><p>Wood burning stoves and coal fires are now the single largest contributor to our national emissions of particulate matter. We are already taking steps to tackle emissions from domestic burning. The Environment Bill currently before Parliament contains measures to reduce emissions from domestic solid fuel burning, the single largest contributor of fine particulate matter emissions. It will create a simpler mechanism for local authorities seeking to reduce smoke emissions within their areas.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, in line with the Clean Air Strategy, Defra has consulted on the cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels and wood. We expect to publish the Government response to this consultation in the near future.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 12/02/2020 11:41:19 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4776 label Biography information for Munira Wilson

1186249

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2020
	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	Wood-burning Stoves
	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 support consumers moving from wood-burning stoves to more environmentally friendly alternatives.
	tabling member constituency	South Leicestershire
	tabling member printed	Alberto Costa
	uin	31623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government has a range of support mechanisms in place. There are Government initiatives for those living in fuel poverty burning solid fuels. The Energy Company Obligation is a requirement on larger energy suppliers to reduce heating costs through the installation of energy efficiency measures and new heating systems. It includes the installation of central heating in homes which have not had it before. Additionally, there is a minimum requirement to deliver measures in rural areas and incentives to deliver to homes off the gas grid. The Private Rented Sector Regulation 2019 also requires landlords to improve the energy performance of F&amp;G rated properties they let out. Looking ahead, the Government is planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy later this year, which will set out the immediate actions we will take for reducing emissions from buildings.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we recently announced proposals to introduce legislation for cleaner domestic burning of solid fuels. This will introduce restrictions on the sale of wet wood for domestic burning so that it can only be purchased in volumes over 2m<sup>3</sup>. Burning a dry log which has below 20% moisture can reduce emissions by 50% compared with a log which has not been dried. It is also much more cost effective to burn on a heat output basis, and leaves less tar and soot in the appliance and chimney. Therefore dry wood will still be available for sale under these proposals.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 27/03/2020 12:49:48 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4439 label Biography information for Alberto Costa

1235524

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2020
	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	Wlldlife: Coronavirus
	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 his Department is taking to protect wildlife from death or injury caused by discarded face masks.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry North East
	tabling member printed	Colleen Fletcher
	uin	91655
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government has published guidance on the proper disposal of face coverings and other PPE during the coronavirus pandemic. This is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-disposing-of-waste" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-disposing-of-waste</a>.</p><p>Littering of PPE is a criminal offence, and councils have legal powers to take enforcement action against offenders. Anyone caught littering may be prosecuted in a magistrates’ court, which can lead to a criminal record and a fine of up to £2,500 on conviction. Instead of prosecuting, councils may decide to issue a fixed penalty (on-the-spot fine) of between £65 and £150. If a council has not set a local fixed penalty level, it must charge the default penalty, which is £100.</p><p> </p><p>Defra is raising awareness via social media of what individuals can do to protect others and the environment, including in relation to litter. We have recently published a video highlighting the issue of improperly discarded face coverings at: <a href="https://twitter.com/DefraGovUK/status/1309045391724351489" target="_blank">twitter.com/DefraGovUK/status/1309045391724351489</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has launched a 'Respect the Outdoors' campaign this summer. This has been promoted both online and in locations near to urban parks, beaches and national parks to highlight the impacts of littering, as well as unauthorised barbeques and campfires, and breaches of the countryside code.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has also supported, and provided funding for, Keep Britain Tidy's Love Parks campaign, which encourages people to treat our parks with respect this summer. Further information about the campaign is available at:</p><p><a href="http://www.keepbritaintidy.org/news/new-campaign-launched-face-littering-epidemic-parks" target="_blank">www.keepbritaintidy.org/news/new-campaign-launched-face-littering-epidemic-parks</a>.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 25/09/2020 12:54:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4378 label Biography information for Colleen Fletcher

1172669

	registered interest
	date	22/01/2020
	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	Wind Power: Seas and Oceans
	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 ensure that support for the deployment of offshore wind generation capacity to meet net zero emissions targets does not harm international marine species and habitats.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
	tabling member printed	Layla Moran
	uin	6767
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2020 answer text <p>We fully support the growth of offshore wind and recognise the essential role it plays in meeting the net zero target. Defra has a significant interest in offshore wind development in terms of its potential to contribute to meeting the Government’s climate change commitments, and we also have a critical role in ensuring the protection of our marine environment, particularly across our network of designated Marine Protected Areas.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with other Government bodies, the Crown Estate, industry and wider stakeholders to mitigate against, and prepare for, any environmental impacts of growth in the offshore wind sector. This programme of measures will enable the responsible and sustainable growth of offshore wind.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 31/01/2020 10:48:13 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran