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1064916

registered interest
date	22/02/2019
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	Canoeing
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 promote open access to waterways for canoeists.
tabling member constituency	Colchester
tabling member printed	Will Quince
uin	224812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>Access to waterways, including for recreational purposes, remains subject to licence by the relevant navigation authority or to agreement with the riparian landowner where there is no navigation authority in place.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 11:41:23 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4423 label Biography information for Will Quince

1064726

registered interest
date	21/02/2019
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	Waste: 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, what estimate he has made of the number of waste exporters who have not demonstrated that the importer of their waste operates to human health and environmental protection standards that are broadly equivalent to the standards within the EU.
tabling member constituency	Kensington
tabling member printed	Emma Dent Coad
uin	224374
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>There is a system of international rules on waste shipments. The UK is a Party to the United Nations Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. The Convention provides a global system for controlling the export of hazardous wastes and wastes collected from households. The requirements of the Basel Convention have been implemented in UK law by the EU Waste Shipment Regulations (Regulation (EC) 1013/2006) and the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007. The legislation requires that those involved in the shipment of waste take all necessary steps to ensure waste is managed in an environmentally sound manner throughout its shipment and during its recycling or recovery.</p><p> </p><p>In 2017 the Environment Agency (EA) inspected over 1,000 shipping containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. This stopped over 7,000 tonnes of waste not fit for export at ports, and they also prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching ports.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Producer Responsibility system for packaging, WEEE and batteries waste streams, the EA is informed annually about the overseas sites exporters intend to use. Companies exporting to non-EU and non-OECD countries are asked to provide evidence that each overseas re-processor is suitably permitted and operates to broadly equivalent standards. Follow up assessment by the EA may include discussions with the competent overseas authority and the other devolved agencies. A list of acceptable evidence to support broadly equivalent standards has been created from this process. The list is regularly reviewed and shared externally with operators to ensure a consistent approach. As a result of our assessment, 95 overseas sites were refused approval for 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The agency uses a wide range of sources of intelligence to create a risk profile of these exporters which feeds into our compliance monitoring programme of visits and desk top monitoring. In 2017, 3.9m Tonnes (around 40%) of the estimated 10m Tonnes of Green List waste exported from the UK was exported by accredited packaging exporters, and subject to these checks.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise we need to do more to eliminate improperly-handled exports of wastes. Firstly, we need to grow our domestic waste industry so that we can handle more of it at home, reducing exports as far as possible. Secondly, we need to ensure strict controls are in place so that the waste we do have to export is dealt with properly.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the recently published Resources and Waste Strategy, Defra has committed to reviewing the regulatory framework covering waste exports. This will review the quality of exports for recycling and ensure that exports of all wastes are recycled at sites operating to equivalent standards to those required in the UK. The review is scheduled to take place this year and will consider options for the mandatory submission of ‘Annex VII’ paperwork (details of the waste being exported and all parties involved in its shipment and recovery overseas) in advance of shipments taking place. The review will also look at any associated IT systems required and charges needed for compliance monitoring activity.</p><p> </p><p>Other measures that we are developing include improved provision for waste repatriation, and charging higher fees to improve compliance. These changes aim to ensure any waste we do send abroad is fit for recycling and that it is recycled to equivalent standards as required in the UK. This should create a more level playing field for domestic recyclers as well as reducing the chances of exported waste being mishandled.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 10:20:45 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4683 label Biography information for Emma Dent Coad

1064314

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Non-native Species
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, Economic Cost of Invasive Non-Native Species on Great Britain, published by CABI in November 2010, what the cost to the public purse has been of Invasive Non-Native Species since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	223795
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>The responsibility for tackling invasive non-native species (INNS) and the associated costs of mitigating the damage they cause will impact on a number of departments and non-departmental public bodies. The Government does not hold collated information on the direct cost to the ‘public purse’. However, we are working towards furthering our understanding of the impact of invasive species, including their economic costs. Defra has recently commissioned a scoping study which will investigate whether it is possible to quantify a broader range of impacts of INNS on natural capital assets and the ecosystem services they provide. This will build on CABI’s Defra-funded study from 2010, which was a substantial and detailed assessment. The study clearly demonstrated that the costs of INNS to the British economy are considerable and widespread.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/02/2019 15:19:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1064315

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Non-native Species
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 what dates (a) power of entry and (b) species control provisions have been used under Section 14(4A) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, as amended by Section 23 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	223796
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>Enforcement of Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is a matter for the police and Defra therefore does not hold a record of when those powers have been used.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 223797 question first answered 27/02/2019 15:12:31 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1064323

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Non-native Species
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 the incidents that have been recorded in non-compliance of The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (prohibition on sale etc. of Invasive Non-native Plants) (England) Order 2014.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	223797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2019 answer text <p>Enforcement of Section 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act is a matter for the police and Defra therefore does not hold a record of when those powers have been used.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 223796 question first answered 27/02/2019 15:12:31 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1064451

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Plastics: Packaging
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 encourage all major supermarket chains to introduce reduction targets for plastics.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	223976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The Resources and Waste Strategy, published in December 2018, included the ambition to work towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025 and to eliminate avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan.</p><p> </p><p>Industry is already taking action. In April last year, the Waste &amp; Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation launched their world-leading UK Plastics Pact, with support from the Government, and all the major supermarkets have signed up to it. The Pact brings these organisations together with four key targets for 2025 that aim to reduce the amount of plastic waste generated. We are currently consulting on a series of reforms, including reform to the existing packaging waste regulations, which will support supermarkets in achieving those targets.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also working with retailers and WRAP to encourage their efforts to reduce waste and to explore the introduction of plastic-free supermarket initiatives in which fresh food is sold loose, giving consumers the choice.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/02/2019 10:13:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1064482

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	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 steps the Government is taking to reduce the export of plastic waste to developing countries; and if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of a complete ban on plastic waste exports to developing countries.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	224034
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government wants to export less waste and make sure the waste we do have to export is handled properly. As set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the government is putting in place measures to improve the quality of the materials we collect for recycling as well as creating domestic markets for these materials. The government recently published four consultations which will support these ambitions: consistency in materials collected for recycling, reform of the packaging waste producer responsibility system, a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and a tax to encourage the use of recycled material in plastic packaging. In addition, we will seek to tighten controls on exports of all waste, and are exploring a range of measures including increasing monitoring of international waste shipments, improved provision for waste repatriation, and charging higher fees to improve compliance with waste shipment controls.</p><p> </p><p>While waste is a commodity, and there is a global market for secondary materials, it must be and is subject to strict controls. Under EU legislation non-OECD countries elect the controls to be applied in respect of waste exports to their countries from the EU, choosing either to prohibit specific wastes, require prior written approval, apply their own national procedures or no control measures. The authorities in countries that receive waste from the EU need to be clear about the types of waste they will accept and the waste import procedures they require exporters in the EU to adhere to.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Waste Shipment Regulations impose strict conditions on the types of waste that can be exported, and set out procedures that waste exporters must follow. They prohibit the export from the EU of waste for disposal to a country outside the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Regulation 21 of the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations makes it an offence to transport waste destined for disposal to countries outside the EFTA.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a robust approach to enforcing these controls. In 2017 the Environment Agency (EA) inspected more than 1,000 shipping containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. The EA stopped over 7,000 tonnes of waste at ports and prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching ports.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 10:15:34 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1064485

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Plastics: 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 the Government has made of the feasibility of banning the use of non-recyclable plastics in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
tabling member printed	Tom Brake
uin	224037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy in December last year which sets out our plans to reduce plastic pollution.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to working towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on reforming existing packaging waste regulations, introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, and increasing consistency in the recycling system, which together we expect to drive major improvements in recycling rates. Industry is also committed to increasing the recyclability of plastic packaging, including through the world-leading UK Plastics Pact. We expect these initiatives by industry, combined with our reforms, to work together to eliminate from use the most problematic and difficult to recycle plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>As the Resources and Waste Strategy makes clear, however, where progress is insufficient we will explore alternative policy measures, which may take the form of a ban as part of a wider strategic approach. We have already consulted on banning the distribution and/or sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds and will shortly be publishing a summary of responses. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products, including problematic packaging materials.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/02/2019 17:52:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1064491

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Environmental Stewardship 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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 206757 on Environmental Stewardship Scheme, how many of those agreements did not have any aftercare visits.
tabling member constituency	Keighley
tabling member printed	John Grogan
uin	224043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The answer to Question 206757 records that 1892 Agreements lasted the full ten years. A total of 1677 of these received one or more visits. While this data suggests 215 of these agreements did not receive a visit, this data has only been held since 2014 and does not record where visits may have occurred in the years prior to this date.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 17:37:57 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	382 label Biography information for John Grogan

1064492

registered interest
date	20/02/2019
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	Environmental Stewardship 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, pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2019 to Question 206757, on Environmental Stewardship Scheme, how many of those visits occurred in the final year of the agreement.
tabling member constituency	Keighley
tabling member printed	John Grogan
uin	224044
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>Of the 1677 visits recorded, 866 of these are recorded as visits in the final year of the agreement. Records have only been collated since 2014 and many of these agreements will also have received visits prior to their final year.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 17:42:06 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	382 label Biography information for John Grogan