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1093501

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2019
	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	Biodiversity
	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 meet UN biodiversity targets on halting species decline and improving the condition of protected sites.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	235742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2019 answer text <p>Domestic biodiversity policy is a devolved matter and the information provided relates to England only, except in relation to our plans internationally.</p><p>On land, around 94% of our protected sites, covering over 1 million hectares, are now in good condition or have management in place to restore their condition. At sea, we are putting management measures in place to protect and expand our Marine Protected Areas. We have consulted on a third tranche of 41 Marine Conservation Zones. Sites to be designated will be in place by 7 June.</p><p>Our agencies and non-Departmental bodies are working on species recovery projects with landowning and conservation partners, for example on freshwater pearl mussel, short-haired bumblebee and stone curlew.</p><p>The ongoing declines in nature are a global problem that need a global solution. That is why the UK is committed to playing a leading role in developing a global post-2020 framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity that is ambitious and transformational. Our Darwin Initiative supports global action by providing grants to protect biodiversity and the natural environment, with £10.6 million awarded in 2018. Defra has contributed almost £6 million over the last three years to Darwin Plus for Overseas Territories’ biodiversity. We continue to support activities to end poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, and have recently passed new legislation to close our domestic ivory market, which will be the toughest ivory ban in Europe and one of the toughest in the world.</p><p>The UK Government has committed to protecting the ocean, and has called for at least 30 per cent of the ocean to be in Marine Protected Areas by 2030. Our Blue Belt programme will protect marine habitats and species in 4million km<sup>2</sup> around the Overseas Territories by 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/03/2019 16:16:00 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105157

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Fuels: Subsidies
	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 European Commission report entitled Energy prices and costs in Europe 2018, what assessment he has made of the implications for (a) his policies and (b) the Government's 25 Year Environment Plan of that report's conclusion that the UK offers the biggest fuel subsidies in the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	237051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>Energy and climate mitigation policy is covered by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. On the natural environment, Defra will report annually on progress towards meeting the goals set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. As part of this, these annual reports will consider how external factors could influence progress and what further action is required to meet these goals.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/04/2019 14:35:28 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105161

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Livestock: Waste Disposal
	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 are being taken to develop a systemic approach to safe management of agricultural animal waste.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	237053
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below information relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>There is already in place a systematic approach for the safe management of agricultural animal waste. Slurry and manure produced by farm animals and the associated controls are managed through zone designations and compliance regulations. The specific approach depends upon whether a farm falls within a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ), which cover 55% of England, or outside an NVZ, in which case pollution control regulation applies.</p><p> </p><p>Under NVZ rules operators are required to store their manures and slurries for up to 5 or 6 months depending on farm type, keep records and only spread manures and slurries at certain times of the year, whilst keeping the application rates within nutrient limits. Under current pollution control regulation, stores must be constructed to a required standard, meet necessary construction requirements and have a minimum capacity of 4 months’ storage. Spreading is regulated under the farming rules for water (FrFW) which set out how best to use manure and slurry to avoid pollution.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 01/04/2019 08:37:32 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105261

	registered interest
	date	26/03/2019
	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	Microplastics
	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 findings of the May 2018 report by the Institute for European Environmental Policy, what steps his Department is taking to tackle micro-plastic contamination on land; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	237064
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>Our priority is preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place, be that the marine or terrestrial environment. The Resources and Waste Strategy, published in December last year, sets out our plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. This encompasses all types of plastic, including microplastics, and we are already taking action.</p><p> </p><p>Last year we introduced one of the world’s strongest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Microbeads, like other microplastics, do not biodegrade and therefore accumulate in the environment.</p><p> </p><p>To address the evidence gaps surrounding other sources of microplastics, we are funding research by the University of Plymouth into textiles and tyres which are estimated to be significant sources of microplastics in the environment.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, Defra recognises the problems associated with plastic contamination in soil. We are working with the Waste and Resources Action Programme to explore how Government policy can address this issue, including by bringing industry and trade associations together through the Food Waste Recycling Action Plan to minimise plastic pollution in compost and digestate.</p><p> </p><p>The UK welcomes international collaboration on preventing and reducing plastic waste. The actions listed in the EU’s plastics strategy and its proposed Directive on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment are broadly consistent with Government policy in this area. The UK supports this initiative and welcomes the EU in following our lead and recognising the importance of addressing plastic pollution. We will match or where economically practicable exceed the Directive’s ambition.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/04/2019 16:00:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105473

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2019
	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	Textiles: Recycling
	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 level of Government support for the textile recycling industry.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	237628
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s Resources and Waste Strategy identifies clothing and textiles as a high impact material stream. We will be taking on board learning and progress through the industry-led voluntary Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP), co-ordinated by WRAP, and wider research, in order to decide the action needed in terms of textile recycling on the part of Government. We will explore the most appropriate policy measures including the introduction of an extended producer responsibility scheme which we will consider and consult on.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/04/2019 15:56:02 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105702

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2019
	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	Bees: 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 funding his Department has allocated to encourage farmers to plant more wildflowers to reverse the decline of bees.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	237631
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the below information relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England estimates that over £125 million has been allocated to support the sowing of wildflowers across Environmental Stewardship and Countryside Stewardship options, on agreements put in place between 2005 and the end of 2018.</p><p> </p><p>This expenditure on wildflower options, such as flower-rich margins or pollen and nectar mixtures, represents only a small proportion of total expenditure on habitats for bees, which will also benefit from payments for managing existing habitat such as protected sites or hedgerows.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is spending £2.9 billion on agri-environment schemes in England funded through our seven year Rural Development Programme. This funding will support the provision of habitat for bees and other wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>In 2015, Defra introduced the ‘Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package’ to Countryside Stewardship, to make it easier for farmers to provide flower-rich margins or pollen and nectar plots on fields to support wild pollinators. The package ensures that a minimum of 3% of the farm is converted to habitat for farm wildlife including bees and other pollinators.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/04/2019 09:37:37 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105909

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2019
	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	Polluter Pays Principle
	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 has plans to introduce a polluter pays principle.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	238284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government published clauses of the Draft Environment Bill at the end of 2018.[1] Contained in these clauses (subsection 2(d)) is the ‘polluter pays principle’. Correspondingly, the Government is intending to include the polluter pays principle in the final clauses of the forthcoming Environment Bill.</p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/766849/draft-environment-bill-governance-principles.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/766849/draft-environment-bill-governance-principles.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/04/2019 16:41:02 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1105913

	registered interest
	date	28/03/2019
	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	Sustainable Development
	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 demonstrate the effect of all economic activities to help (a) consumers, (b) investors, (c) banks and (d) companies to make more sustainable choices.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	238285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government launched the 25 Year Environment Plan in January 2018 with a key commitment to develop a comprehensive set of indicators, which collectively describes environmental change as it relates to the ten goals as set out in the Plan. In December 2018 the government published a draft indicator framework for the Environment Plan that aims to capture the wide range of impacts that economic actions have on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to working with the Office for National Statistics to incorporate natural capital into the UK Environmental Accounts by 2020 so that the benefits of nature would be better recognised. This commitment has been reiterated in the 25 Year Environment plan. The UK accounts are being used to inform natural capital accounts and decisions by businesses and other land owning bodies.</p><p> </p><p>To enable consumers and businesses to make more sustainable choices we have reduced plastic waste by introducing one of the world’s strongest microbead bans, setting out plans to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers and extending the 5p plastic bag charge, and overhauling our waste system with a comprehensive Resources and Waste Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has launched the Year of Green Action to draw together targeted actions to make it easier for people to get involved in improving the natural world and spread the word about environmental issues. It will provide a focal point for organisations, individuals, communities and businesses to learn more about their environmental impact and take action to reduce it.</p><p> </p><p>On the international stage the UK is at the forefront of combatting the illegal wildlife trade. Our landmark Ivory Act put one of the world’s toughest bans on the sale of ivory into law.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/04/2019 16:33:26 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1108654

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2019
	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	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, with reference to ClientEarth's correspondence with local authorities in England and Wales on the the legal risk of inaction on air pollution, whether local authorities are sufficiently equipped to address illegal air pollution levels.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	239189
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The UK continues to meet all current international air quality limits except for NO2. In July 2017 we published the NO2 Plan, backed by £3.5 billion funding, which sets out the steps we are taking to comply with NO2 limits as soon as possible. Also, we published our ambitious Clean Air Strategy in January which the Director-General of the World Health Organization described as “an example for the rest of the world to follow”.</p><p> </p><p>Recognising that there are still local authorities which are in breach of statutory limits on roadside NO2 concentrations, the UK government allocated £495 million of funding to support local authorities in its 2017 plan. Local authorities already have many powers to monitor and reduce air pollution and we continue to work intensively with them, to identify measures to bring forward compliance as soon as possible.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/04/2019 15:42:02 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1108695

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2019
	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	Fungicides
	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 plans his Department has to ban chlorothalonil following the EU's decision to do so.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	239190
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2019 answer text <p>The European Commission Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (pesticides legislation and residues) voted not to renew approval of chlorothalonil on 22 March. The Commission is now expected to adopt this proposal. Once the text is published, it will come into force after 20 days.</p><p> </p><p>When we leave the EU, the UK will retain the list of EU-approved pesticides in UK law as it stands at the point of departure (or at the end of the Implementation Period, if this applies).</p><p> </p><p>If we leave the EU without a deal and the EU decision on chlorothalonil is not in force at the point of leaving the EU, then the UK will make its own decision on this approval. We have made clear that we will not weaken standards. Decisions on the use of pesticides will continue to be based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks, and we would legally apply the same principles established under the EU regulation. Responsibility is shared between Defra and the Devolved Administrations. This would be based on a recommendation from our national regulator, the Health and Safety Executive, and additional independent advice and assurance from the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides.</p> answering member constituency Scarborough and Whitby answering member printed Mr Robert Goodwill question first answered 04/04/2019 15:53:30 answering member 1562 label Biography information for Sir Robert Goodwill
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly