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1003653

	registered interest
	date	09/11/2018
	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	Farms: Ammonia
	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 his Department's strategy is for cutting the amount of ammonia from farms.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	189536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The Government has a statutory commitment to reduce ammonia emissions from 2005 levels by 8% by 2020 and by 16% by 2030. Farming accounts for 88% of UK emissions of ammonia.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s consultation on a Clean Air Strategy was published on 22 May. The Strategy proposed that the Government would require and support farmers to make investments in farm infrastructure and equipment that will reduce emissions.</p><p> </p><p>We sought views on 3 possible approaches to regulation to reduce ammonia emissions. Proposals included regulations to reduce emissions from storage and spreading of slurry and manure and from use of urea-based fertilisers. We are considering the responses to the consultation, and the final Strategy will be published by the end of this year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is providing technical and financial support for farmers to invest in equipment to reduce ammonia emissions. Grants are currently available through the Countryside Productivity Scheme to help farmers purchase manure management equipment including low-emission spreaders and through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for slurry tank and lagoon covers for farmers in priority water catchments.</p><p> </p><p>Defra worked with farming industry organisations to develop a voluntary Code of good agricultural practice for reducing ammonia emissions which was published earlier this year. Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers will shortly be trained to deliver on-farm advice on ammonia mitigation methods.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has recently consulted on a new system of financial support for farmers, delivering public money for public goods. This includes improving air quality and reducing ammonia emissions.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/11/2018 17:20:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1010594

	registered interest
	date	20/11/2018
	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	Incinerators: Health Hazards
	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 takes to assess the potential effects on human health of proposed waste incinerators.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	193367
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2018 answer text <p>In order to be allowed to operate, waste incinerators must obtain an environmental permit from the Environment Agency. Under environmental permitting, the Environment Agency is responsible for ensuring that the proposed plant will comply with all relevant legislation and that it will not cause significant harm to the environment or human health.</p><p> </p><p>Checks that the Environment Agency carries out to assess the potential health effects of proposed waste incinerators include:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Making sure that the proposed plant will meet the requirements of relevant European directives, including emission limits and the use of best available techniques to prevent or minimise emissions.</p></li><li><p>Carrying out an environmental impact assessment of emissions from the plant to ensure that it will not give rise to significant pollution or cause environmental standards to be exceeded, and a specific human health risk assessment for dioxin emissions.</p></li><li><p>Taking into account scientific opinion, including advice provided by Public Health England (PHE) on the health effects of incinerators. The Environment Agency also consults PHE, the Food Standards Agency and the relevant local authority’s Director of Public Health for their views on every EfW plant application they receive.</p></li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/11/2018 17:35:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1016280

	registered interest
	date	28/11/2018
	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	Waste: Crime
	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 enforcement undertakings for waste crime the Environment Agency has undertaken in each of the last three years; how many resulted in successful prosecution; and what fines were imposed in each case if the sums were greater than £10,000.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	196686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>Enforcement Undertakings (EUs) are a civil sanction and constitute a voluntary offer made by offenders, containing actions to address the cause and effect of their offending. Where an EU is accepted it becomes a legally binding agreement. The Environment Agency is increasingly using EUs for suitable cases to restore or enhance the environment, improve practices of the offending business and ensure future compliance with environmental requirements.</p><p> </p><p>Over the past 3 calendar years for waste-related offences the Environment Agency has accepted:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>2016 30 EUs accepted, contributing £858,195.69 towards environmental projects;</p></li><li><p>2017 32 EUs accepted, contributing £1,027,423.53 towards environmental projects; and</p></li><li><p>2018 (to date) 27 EUs accepted, contributing £597,022.43 to environmental projects.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p>EUs are one type of enforcement measure the Environment Agency considers and it will only do so for cases where prosecution is not appropriate using its published Enforcement and Sanctions Policy to guide its approach. However prosecutions will still be taken, particularly in the most serious cases.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency have undertaken the following waste prosecutions in the last 3 years:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>2016 152 waste prosecutions, of which 129 were successful</p></li><li><p>2017 129 waste prosecutions, of which 115 were successful</p></li><li><p>2018 (to date) 79 waste prosecutions, of which 73 were successful</p></li></ul><p> </p><p>I attach details of each case for each time period where the fines imposed exceeded £10,000.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/12/2018 14:59:10 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey attachment 1 file name Copy of Waste Prosecutions - Fines over 10k - 2016-2018 (to mid Nov).xls title Details of fines over £10,000
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1020589

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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	Curlews: Special Protection Areas
	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 report entitled The status of UK SPAs in the 2000s: the Third Network Review, published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee in 2016, what representations have been received by (a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies on completing the network of Special Protection Areas for Curlew in the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	199770
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>None.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 11/12/2018 15:31:03 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1020638

	registered interest
	date	06/12/2018
	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	Trees: Diseases
	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 incidences of each notifiable tree disease have been reported to his Department; what species of tree was affected by each disease; and when the notifications were made.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	199775
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2018 answer text <p>The Tree Health Diagnostic and Advisory Service (THDAS) at Forest Research provides advice and where possible diagnosis and identification of tree pests and pathogens. The Forestry Commission has developed TreeAlert, an online tool to help gather information about the health of the nation's trees, woodlands and forests, which allows individuals to report any suspected tree pests and diseases. Over half of the enquiries received at THDAS come through TreeAlert. The rest of the enquiries come via email, letter, telephone or visitors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>From 2015 to 30 September 2018, THDAS identified 1820 cases of notifiable trees pests and diseases. Of these, ash dieback and oak processionary moth were the most frequently reported notifiable pests and diseases. The reports received included a range of different tree species affected by pests and diseases.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 11/12/2018 15:24:46 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

747597

	registered interest
	date	03/07/2017
	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	Incinerators
	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 he has to assess the adequacy of levels of capacity in the provision of the incineration of waste.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	2632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/07/2017 answer text <p>The incineration of waste with energy recovery (also known as energy from waste) plays an important role in diverting waste from landfill but it must not compete with greater prevention, re-use and recycling of waste. We have a high level of confidence that we will have sufficient waste infrastructure, including energy from waste capacity, in place to meet the UK’s 2020 landfill diversion target. Going forward, the National Infrastructure Commission is looking at waste as part of its assessment of the UK’s major infrastructure needs on a 30-year time horizon. We will consider the Commission’s findings along with any capacity issues associated with waste infrastructure as we develop future policy on waste and resources.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 11/07/2017 12:11:45 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

760873

	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	Incinerators: Taxation
	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 discussions he has had with HM Treasury on the efficacy of an incinceration tax; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	105361
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2017 answer text <p>Defra Ministers have had no recent discussions with HM Treasury regarding an incineration tax. Defra officials have regular meetings with HM Treasury on a wide range of waste policy issues. We are developing a renewed strategy on waste and resources that looks ahead at opportunities outside the EU and we will consider the current approach to waste management incentives. Fiscal measures are a matter for HM Treasury.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/10/2017 11:39:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

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

769686

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2017
	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	Tree Planting: Urban Areas
	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 his policy is on the planting of extra trees in towns and cities; and what provision he plans to make for additional local authority tree offices and other funding to manage those trees.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	107490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2017 answer text <p>The Government is committed to planting one million trees in our towns and cities by 2022, reflecting our recognition of the important benefits they bring to the places where people live, work, and visit.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are giving millions of schoolchildren across England, mostly in urban areas, the chance to plant trees in their schools and communities as part of a Government-backed scheme, in partnership with the Woodland Trust and the Community Forest Trust.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 19/10/2017 10:57:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

772153

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2017
	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	Ivory: Exports
	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 bring forward legislative proposals to ban the export of ivory from the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	108202
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2017 answer text <p>The government announced its proposals on October 6 to introduce a total ban on UK sales of ivory and the import and export of ivory for sale to and from the UK, that could contribute either directly or indirectly to the continued poaching of elephants. Consultation on the proposals, which include some carefully defined and narrowly targeted exemptions runs until 29 December, and we will publish a response soon after.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/10/2017 13:36:25 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew