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1713195

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Flood Control: Yorkshire and the Humber
	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 work with metro mayors to create a plan for flooding across Yorkshire.
	tabling member constituency	York Central
	tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
	uin	23246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Lead Local Flood Authorities have a duty to develop, maintain, apply and monitor a strategy for local flood risk management in its area, and the Government is supportive of them working together to deliver shared mitigations for a wider area.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to reform the current approach to local flood risk planning by 2026, ensuring every area of England will have a more strategic and comprehensive plan that drives long-term local action and investment and supports a catchment-based approach. To strengthen collaboration, we will encourage flood and coastal erosion risk management activities across local authority boundaries and explore options to join up flood resilience with other responsibilities held by Mayors or Combined Authorities.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s six-year £200 million flood and coastal innovation programme (FCIP), £8 million is allocated to four adaptation pathways to support work in the Thames and Humber estuaries, the Severn Valley and Yorkshire to trial and develop ways of planning ahead and making wise investment choices for the decades to come in the face of the long-term uncertainties brought by climate change. The West Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (WYAP) project is developing a community-scale surface water flood risk adaptation plan for a town in West Yorkshire. The South Yorkshire Adaption Pathway (SYAP) project aims to develop an adaptation pathway plan for South Yorkshire which will ensure that all decision-making on, and implementation of, long-term, future adaptation is as efficient and effective as possible.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/04/2024 09:00:11 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1713208

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Flood Control: 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 steps his Department is taking to help reduce flooding in urban areas.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Tahir Ali
	uin	23305
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government is investing £5.6 billion between 2021 and 2027 to better protect communities across England from flooding and coastal erosion. This investment includes a record £5.2 billion capital investment programme, a £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme, £170 million for economic recovery from flooding and over £30 million of funding for flood incident management.</p><p> </p><p>This investment will benefit both urban and rural communities. We forecast that around 55% of the £5.2bn investment, and around 60% of schemes, will better protect properties in urban areas. This includes investment in major flood projects benefitting urban areas, such as the Thames Estuary Programme, the Southsea Coastal Scheme, and others.</p><p> </p><p>Flood risk is also an important consideration in the planning system and there are strong safeguards in place. In 2022/23, 96% of all planning decisions complied with Environment Agency advice on flood risk.</p><p> </p><p>On 13 March 2024 the Government published its response to the National Infrastructure Commission’s study into ‘reducing the risk of surface water flooding’. Our response sets out actions to strengthen and further develop the implementation of current policy, supporting lead local flood authorities to access better data, information and to improve co-operation between bodies.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/04/2024 09:03:29 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4747 label Biography information for Tahir Ali

1713296

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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	Wildlife: Conservation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of animal population decline in other countries on the UK, following the WWF’s Living Planet Report 2022 which showed that worldwide animal populations have declined by 69 per cent since 1970.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL4037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK is susceptible to impacts from animal population decline worldwide through global impacts on food supply and the increasing emergence and transmission of diseases. For example, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Pollinators Assessment showed that 35% of global crop production volume depends on animal pollination, while the IPBES Workshop report on Biodiversity and Pandemics showed that over 30% of emerging disease events are caused by land-use change and its impacts on wildlife. Healthy ecosystems are also vital for mitigating and adapting to climate change, thus animal population declines may also exacerbate the climate impacts felt by the UK, as set out in the UK’s Climate Change Risk Assessment. The UK Government with others continues to support the work of the IPBES and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to further understand these global impacts.</p><p> </p><p>A recently published report from the Green Finance Institute, entitled ‘Assessing the Materiality of Nature-Related Financial Risks for the UK’, with direction from Defra and others, showed that about half of all UK nature-related risk comes from overseas, through supply chains and financial exposures. It showed that the combination of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation could lead to major economic shocks leading to UK Gross Domestic Product being up to 12% lower that it may otherwise have been by the 2030s (even lower when combined with climate impacts).</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 26/04/2024 13:43:36 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1712831

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2024
	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	Flowers: Imports
	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) gypsophila, (b) solidago, (c) orchids, (d) dianthus and (e) chrysanthemum consignments were imported from the EU between 2010 and 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Rhondda
	tabling member printed	Sir Chris Bryant
	uin	22911
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>During the period described this data was not collected as the goods detailed were not under restriction from the EU.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 25/04/2024 12:35:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

1702496

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	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	Hedges and Ditches: 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 assessment he has made of the effectiveness of hedgerow protections.
	tabling member constituency	City of Durham
	tabling member printed	Mary Kelly Foy
	uin	22817
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>There has been no formal assessment made of the effectiveness of hedgerow protections. The majority of hedgerows on agricultural land were previously managed in accordance with rules contained in cross compliance that were conditioned to payments made through the Basic Payment Scheme and some agri-environment schemes. As we moved away from the Basic Payment Scheme at the end of last year, cross compliance and the hedgerow management rules also ended. The Government consulted last year on the best approach following the end of cross compliance and on the 16 April laid new regulations that, if approved, will put management practices for hedgerows on agricultural land into law.</p><p> </p><p>Certain hedgerows are also protected from removal under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 if they meet specific criteria. These regulations are enforced by Local Planning Authorities, who can utilise their understanding of the local context and landscape character.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 25/04/2024 12:45:59 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4753 label Biography information for Mary Kelly Foy

1702520

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	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	Plastics: Waste
	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 steps his Department has taken to reduce (a) single-use and (b) other plastic waste.
	tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
	tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
	uin	22773
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>In December 2018, the UK Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy. This sets out how we will achieve a circular economy for plastic and achieve our ambition to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2042.</p><p> </p><p>Our goal is to maximise resource efficiency and minimise waste to keep plastic in circulation for longer by following the principles of the waste hierarchy: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. One way will do this is by making producers more responsible for the plastic they make with our incoming Collection and Packaging Reforms.</p><p> </p><p>Single-use plastics are a particularly problematic type of plastic that makes up much of our waste. We have introduced bans, including most recently in October 2023, on the supply of many unnecessary single-use plastic items. To tackle the use of virgin plastics, the Government brought in the Plastic Packaging Tax in April 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Internationally, the UK is a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition, a group of over 60 countries calling for an ambitious and effective UN Treaty to end plastic pollution. At the current round of negotiations in Canada, we are continuing to support a treaty that will address the full lifecycle of plastic to tackle the problem of plastic pollution globally, including through designing out waste and supporting a circular economy for plastic.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 12:42:53 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1702522

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	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	Environment Agency: Staff
	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 full time staff work in the Environment Agency Economic Crime Unit.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	22665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Fifteen full-time staff worked for the Environment Agency Economic Crime Unit on 22 April 2024.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/04/2024 09:25:51 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1702523

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2024
	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	Darwin Plus: Finance
	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 18 April 2024 to Question 21017 on Darwin Plus, if he will provide a breakdown of Darwin Plus fund projects funded since 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Suffolk Coastal
	tabling member printed	Dr Thérèse Coffey
	uin	22727
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>Pursuant to the Answer of 18 April to Question 21017, a summary of Darwin Plus projects funded since 2019, broken down by Territory, can be found below. These figures include the latest awards from Rounds 12 of Darwin Plus Main and Fellowships, Round 1 of Darwin Plus Strategic, and Round 3 of Darwin Plus Local.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Overseas Territory</p></td><td><p>Grant Funding from 2019 - 2024</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Anguilla</p></td><td><p>£4,818,639.72</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Bermuda</p></td><td><p>£961,876.60</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Antarctic Territory</p></td><td><p>£1,368,375.75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Indian Ocean Territory</p></td><td><p>£1,695,969.14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>British Virgin Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,652,346.29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Cayman Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,152,086.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Falkland Islands</p></td><td><p>£3,789,195.36</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Gibraltar</p></td><td><p>£319,343.10</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Montserrat</p></td><td><p>£2,842,585.69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pitcairn, Henderson, Oeno and Ducie Islands</p></td><td><p>£423,105.00</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>St Helena, Ascension and Tristan Da Cunha</p></td><td><p>£6,486,241.84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands</p></td><td><p>£5,278,964.75</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sovereign Base Area of Akrotiri and Dhekelia</p></td><td><p>£1,883,252.50</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Turks and Caicos Islands</p></td><td><p>£4,120,137.14</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/04/2024 11:30:49 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey

1702155

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Storms: Oxfordshire
	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 support people in Oxfordshire who have been affected by Storm Henk.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford West and Abingdon
	tabling member printed	Layla Moran
	uin	22633
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Storm Henk impacted large parts of Oxfordshire, including homes, businesses and infrastructure. My thoughts are with those affected.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency worked tirelessly to minimise the impacts of flooding by operating flood assets, issuing flood warnings, making sure rivers were free of blockages and, where appropriate, putting out temporary barriers. Following the storm the Environment Agency continues to engage with impacted communities to gather information that will help them, and partners, better understand how they can support the communities to increase their resilience flooding.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency is working with partners to provide a joined-up approach so that communities get the most appropriate and swift support, including the ongoing work to develop and deliver projects such as the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>In January 2024, the Government announced the launch of the Flood Recovery Framework for areas most affected by Storm Henk. These schemes closed on 12 April and included:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Community Recovery Grant - £500 per eligible flooded household.</li><li>Business Recovery Grant - £2,500 per eligible small or medium business.</li><li>Council tax and business rates relief – Minimum three months of relief per eligible household/business.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Defra also activated the Property Flood Resilience (PFR) Repair Grant scheme where eligible properties can receive up to £5,000 to install PFR measures. Households and business who suffered from internal flooding should contact Oxfordshire County Council to apply. The PFR scheme opened on 8 January and will close in July 2025.</p><p> </p><p>We are also actively reviewing the areas eligible for support through the Farming Recovery Fund to ensure it supports areas where farmland is most impacted due to Storm Henk. Oxfordshire is among these areas being considered for inclusion in the Fund. We are working through the impacts and will set out the position on the additional areas to be included in the Fund shortly. We will write to all those eligible farmers informing them of the funding they are able to claim.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/04/2024 08:43:22 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4656 label Biography information for Layla Moran

1702158

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Flood 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 (a) discussions and (b) correspondence his Department has had with (i) Lead Local Flood Authorities and (ii) the Local Government Association as part of his response of 13 March 2024 to the National Infrastructure Council report Reducing the risk of surface water flooding.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
	tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
	uin	22631
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>In considering the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) study into surface water flooding, Defra officials met with the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport’s (ADEPT) Flood and Water Group. This group is predominately made up of lead local flood authorities and the Local Government Association. At the meeting there was a discussion about the NIC’s study and nine recommendations, and the different views on them. The ADEPT Flood and Water Group also wrote to Defra after the meeting. Defra took these views into account when producing the Government response and accepting or partially accepting all of the NIC’s recommendations.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/04/2024 09:39:06 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1702163

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Land Drainage
	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 16 January 2024 to Question 8811 on Land Drainage, what his expected timetable is for implementing Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010; and what (a) correspondence and (b) discussions he has had with local authorities on preparing for the implementation.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle
	tabling member printed	Emma Hardy
	uin	22632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government remains firmly committed to delivering standardised sustainable drainage systems in new developments as stated in our Plan for Water (April 2023). A consultation will take place shortly and final implementation decisions will be made on scope, threshold and process.</p><p> </p><p>Defra officials engage with local authority representatives on this issue on a regular basis. We would expect discussions to intensify during and following the upcoming public consultation.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/04/2024 09:33:59 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4645 label Biography information for Emma Hardy

1702202

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	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 funding is available to local authorities for clean air programmes.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	22635
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>We have allocated over £883 million to help local authorities develop and implement local NO2 reduction plans and to support those impacted by these plans. In addition, the Local Air Quality Grant scheme has supported over 500 projects with a total of over £53 million since 2010. We are currently considering whether the Local Air Quality Grant scheme might be redesigned to better deliver positive outcomes for local air quality.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 09:47:18 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1702203

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	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 steps he is taking to help reduce air pollution.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	22636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>This Government has delivered significant reductions in emissions since 2010 – with emissions of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) falling by 24%, and nitrogen oxides down by 48%. We met our targets to reduce emissions for all five key pollutants in the latest reporting year.</p><p> </p><p>Our Environmental Improvement Plan sets out how we will continue to drive down emissions from domestic burning, agriculture, transport, and industry – delivering cleaner air for all.</p><p> </p><p>PM2.5 is the most harmful pollutant to human health, which is why we have set two new targets to drive down PM2.5 concentrations under the Environment Act 2021:</p><ul><li>A maximum annual mean concentration of 10 µg m-3 by 2040</li><li>A population exposure reduction target of 35% by 2040 compared with 2018.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These targets mean that on average, people’s exposure to particulate matter will be cut by over a third by 2040, compared with 2018 levels.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 09:44:34 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1702204

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Air Quality Grant Scheme
	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 stakeholders on the Air Quality Grant Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	22637
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>Officials have had recent discussions with Local Government Association about the decision on the Air Quality Grant Scheme.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 09:37:06 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1702242

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Flood and Water Management Act 2010
	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 commence schedule 3 of the Floods and Water Act 2010.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	22536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Government remains firmly committed to delivering standardised sustainable drainage systems in new developments as stated in our Plan for Water (April 2023). A consultation will take place shortly and final implementation decisions will be made on scope, threshold and process.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 12:39:51 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1702244

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Housing: Construction
	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 make an assessment of the potential merits of ending the automatic right of new housing developments to connect to the sewage system.
	tabling member constituency	North East Bedfordshire
	tabling member printed	Richard Fuller
	uin	22538
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>The Water Industry Act 1991 permits owners of premises or of private sewers to connect to the public sewer and to discharge into it foul and surface water. A sewerage company may, however, refuse this connection if it appears that the construction or condition of the connecting drain or sewer does not reasonably satisfy the standards it reasonably requires or if the connection would be prejudicial to its own sewerage system. Where there are questions or disputes about reasonableness, the regulator - Ofwat - would make the final determination.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 25/04/2024 12:50:57 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	3912 label Biography information for Richard Fuller

1702319

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Food: Waste
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of high levels of pollutants in food produced near waste incinerators in Europe; and whether they have any plans to conduct similar assessments in the UK.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	uin	HL3930
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2024 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) has not made any assessment of reports on this subject and does not plan to conduct any such assessments in England.</p><p> </p><p>The impact on food produced in proximity to waste incinerators is considered as part of environmental permitting regulations. The EA is responsible for deciding whether new incinerators in England should get a permit to operate. For each permit application it receives, the EA uses the results of air quality modelling and a human health risk assessment (HHRA) to determine the impact of the proposed incinerator.</p><p> </p><p>The HHRA assesses impacts on the food chain. Impact assessments are very conservative and permit decisions are based on worst-case scenario impacts.</p><p> </p><p>The EA also consults the UK Health Security Agency and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on every permit application it receives and will not issue a permit if the proposed plant could cause significant pollution or harm to human health, including via the food chain.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA is responsible for the management of public health risks in relation to food. In general, the FSA considers that if incinerator facilities are correctly operated and monitored, with the appropriate level of emissions abatement, there should be no impact on the local area in terms of elevated levels of contaminants in soil and locally produced food. Measures are in place to manage the risk from chemical contaminants and keep levels as low as reasonably achievable through good practices and regulatory controls.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 26/04/2024 11:06:48 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1702350

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2024
	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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why existing agri-environment schemes such as the Countryside Stewardship scheme are based on the claim deadline of 15 May 2023 while the Rural Payments Agency window runs up until 30 June 2024, resulting in wait times of up to 13 months for farmers and land managers to receive their payments; and whether they have any plans to change this in future.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Sandwich
	uin	HL3961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Within the European Union, policies were set for seven years with limited opportunity to change, however, now that we have left the EU, we are rolling out our new environmental land management schemes and are adopting new approaches, including to our payment frequencies. We have already introduced more frequent payments in our new schemes, to make them work better for farm businesses. For example, SFI offers payments on a quarterly schedule, so that farmers start getting paid in the fourth month of their agreement, and every 3 months after that. Where possible, as we expand the offer, we will offer more frequent payments to more participants.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 24/04/2024 13:46:58 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
	tabling member	2109 label Biography information for The Earl of Sandwich

1701718

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Recycling: 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, if he will take steps with local authorities to increase access to mobile household recycling centres in cities.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Tahir Ali
	uin	22392
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) play an important role in helping people manage the waste they produce in a convenient and sustainable way. Local authorities are responsible for managing HWRCs and determining how best to support their residents to manage waste responsibly. We encourage any innovative approaches that local authorities take to improve access and availability of their waste services.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 23/04/2024 17:47:23 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	4747 label Biography information for Tahir Ali

1701722

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Swifts: 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, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the conservation status of the swift.
	tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
	tabling member printed	George Eustice
	uin	22288
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK swift population is estimated at 59,000 pairs (2016) Swift population trends are monitored annually by the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which recorded a decline of 62% between 1995 and 2021, and of 40% between 2011 and 2021. Due to the declines recorded by BBS, swifts were added to the Red List of Birds of Conservation Concern in the UK in 2021 and are considered ‘Endangered’ at GB level.</p><p>Natural England is currently undertaking a review of the conservation interventions needed to support the recovery of over 100 of our most threatened bird species, including the swift.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/04/2024 14:54:10 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1701723

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Horticulture: Peat
	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 2 February 2024 to Question 10078 on Horticulture: Peat, what (a) legal and (b) other advice he has received on the suitability of powers provided by section 53 and schedule 7 of the Environment Act 2021 in providing an appropriate legislative vehicle for restricting the sale of horticultural peat.
	tabling member constituency	Camborne and Redruth
	tabling member printed	George Eustice
	uin	22289
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the reply previously given on 2 February 2024, PQ 10078.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 24/04/2024 13:37:15 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3934 label Biography information for George Eustice

1701725

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Pets: Smuggling
	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 publish guidance for pet owners on the risks associated with buying pets that have been smuggled into the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	22358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2024 answer text <p>Defra’s national communications campaign (Petfished) aims to raise awareness of issues associated with low-welfare and illegal supply of pets. This includes providing clear signposting on where responsible breeders and rehoming centres can be found and encouraging prospective buyers to research the seller thoroughly before they visit and decide to purchase. The campaign provides a list of red flags for buyers to look out for when searching for a pet online.</p><p> </p><p>Those choosing to import pets from abroad should do so responsibly by ensuring they purchase from a reputable seller or breeder and that it is transported by an authorised transporter with the necessary authorisations.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone who has suspicions or evidence of illegal activity relating to the importation of animals can report this to the Animal and Plant Health Agency Intelligence Unit or their local Trading Standards office.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 24/04/2024 13:31:32 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1701770

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Agriculture: South Holland and the Deepings
	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 the farming sector in South Holland and the Deepings constituency since 2022 by (a) funding type and (b) recipient.
	tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
	tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
	uin	22221
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The Rual Payment Agency has supported the farming and rural sector through payments under a range of schemes.</p><p> </p><p>Since January 2022, the RPA has released 954 payments to farmers, worth around £21.3m, in South Holland and the Deepings constituency broken down as follows.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Vol/Val</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Basic Payment Scheme</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Countryside Stewardship Scheme</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Environmental Stewardship</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Sustainable Farm Incentive</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Other Grants</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Volume</p></td><td><p>756</p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>25</p></td><td><p>28</p></td><td><p>954</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Value (£)</p></td><td><p>£ 17,960,030.90</p></td><td><p>£ 1,863,631.02</p></td><td><p>£ 98,297.09</p></td><td><p>£ 384,085.30</p></td><td><p>£ 963,624.28</p></td><td><p>£ 21,269,668.59</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 23/04/2024 17:51:39 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1701874

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Hedges and Ditches: 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 estimate he has made of the number of miles of hedgerow that has been (a) created and (b) restored since January 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
	tabling member printed	Janet Daby
	uin	22388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2024 answer text <p>We have made no such assessment regarding the <em>total</em> number of hedgerows created or restored since 2023, however, there are now approximately 56,000 miles of hedgerows being managed through 16,000 agreements in the Government’s Countryside Stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes. Under Countryside Stewardship approximately 20,680 Miles of Hedgerow have been created and restored since January 2023.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 22/04/2024 15:00:02 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby

1701888

	registered interest
	date	17/04/2024
	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	Farmers: Floods
	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 rules apply to compensation payments made to farmers affected by flooding from the (a) Farming Recovery Fund and (b) other schemes; and what mechanisms are in place to allow for a review when such payments have been refused.
	tabling member constituency	East Yorkshire
	tabling member printed	Sir Greg Knight
	uin	22256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>The following rules apply to farmers eligible for support from the Farming Recovery Fund. Farmers will receive payments for all land parcels which are flooded contiguous to a river with notably high river level gauge readings following Storm Henk during 2 to 12 January 2024. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) will determine those farm businesses who are eligible and the amount of funding they could claim. If there are questions, then the farmer should write to the RPA.</p><p> </p><p>More details on the rules and eligibility guidance on implementation of the support available for other schemes activated under the Flood Recovery Framework was sent to Local Authorities, who manage the support provided by the Framework where it has been activated. Further review of the scheme is underway. Support available for farm businesses and residencies includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Where a farm operates a SME ancillary business which is severely impacted by flooding, they were eligible to receive up to £2,500 under the Business Recovery Grant in respect of the ancillary business. This scheme closed to new applications on 12 April.</li><li>They can receive up to £5,000 to eligible flood hit property owners to help make their homes and businesses more resilient to future floods under the Property Flood Resilience Repair Grant; and</li><li>They may also be eligible for Business Rate Relief.</li></ul><p> </p><p>These schemes are run by the relevant Local Authorities and any decisions on appeals should be directed to them to review.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 23/04/2024 15:22:00 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
	tabling member	1200 label Biography information for Sir Greg Knight