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536266

registered interest
date	13/07/2016
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	Floods: Insurance
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 she has had with the insurance industry on the development of a Flood Re scheme for businesses.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	42683
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2016 answer text <p>I am aware that some small businesses exposed to high flood risk may be experiencing challenges in finding affordable insurance. My predecessor has met with representatives from the Association of British Insurers, Federation of Small Businesses and the British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA) among others to discuss the extent of this problem.</p><p>BIBA is developing a commercial insurance product that is intended to help businesses in flood risk areas access appropriate cover. Government officials are in regular contact with BIBA to monitor how that product is developing.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 18/07/2016 10:59:49 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

535224

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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	Natura 2000
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy that the Natura 2000 network of protected conservation areas in the UK will (a) continue to have the same level or stronger protection than they now have under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and (b) remain part of the Emerald Network under the Bern Convention regardless of the outcome of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	42311
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>Until we leave the EU, current arrangements for our environment remain in place.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will wish to consider the Impacts of the decision to leave the EU, including for the UK’s Natura 2000 and other protected sites, We have a manifesto commitment to produce a 25 Year Plan for the Environment. We all now have an opportunity to consider our long-term vision for the environment following the referendum vote.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 12:56:58 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

535227

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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: Digital Technology
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 progress her Department has made on supporting access to mobile digital technology for farmers.
tabling member constituency	Leeds West
tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
uin	42285
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>Improving mobile connectivity across the country is a key priority for the Government. Defra works closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on this, with a key focus on rural and hard to reach areas. Defra Ministers are directly involved through meetings with DCMS Ministers and the Digital Implementation Taskforce.</p><p>4G mobile rollout in the UK has been one of the fastest in Europe; 90% of premises now have 4G coverage from at least one operator. Two legally binding licence obligations will help deliver improved mobile coverage across the UK. Telefonica will provide indoor 4G coverage to 98% of UK premises by the end of 2017. This complements the obligation on each of the UK’s four mobile network operators to provide voice and text coverage to at least 90% of UK landmass, also by the end of 2017.</p><p>To facilitate rollout, the Government is reforming the Electronic Communications Code to make it cheaper for the industry to provide coverage and is introducing reforms to the planning regime to allow, amongst other things, taller masts and to enable upgrades of communications infrastructure.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:49:29 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

535229

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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, whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to improve air quality.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	42282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>The national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide, published in December last year, set out a range of measures that we are implementing to improve air quality. In the plan the Government announced that we will be mandating the introduction of Clean Air Zones in five key cities (Birmingham, Derby, Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton). We will be consulting later this year on a Clean Air Zone framework, to provide consistency and certainty, together with draft secondary legislation to mandate the implementation of Clean Air Zones.</p><p>Later this year, Defra will also consult on proposals to reduce pollution from electricity generating plants with high nitrogen oxide emissions that are not currently regulated. The proposals would extend set emission limit values on relevant air pollutants, with a view to having legislation in force no later than January 2019, and possibly sooner.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:42:32 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

535231

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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	Mersey Forest
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 her policy is on supporting Mersey Forest in its aim to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent of the Mersey Forest area.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	42418
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>We certainly support this partnership of local authorities with organisations in the Defra Group, and its aim to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent of the Mersey Forest area. This supports our national commitment to plant 11 million more trees by the end of this Parliament and to continue to expand woodland cover in England.</p><p> </p><p>The Mersey Forest partnership has transformed the Mersey area since it was set up in 1991. It has planted 9 million trees and doubled woodland cover in the area, providing great places for local people to enjoy as well as a wide range of economic and environmental benefits. The Mersey Forest is one of eight Community Forests in England that together deliver urban, economic and social regeneration, helping to transform areas that have seen significant industrial restructuring, by reclaiming brownfield land to create high-quality environments for millions of people. This wider network of Community Forests has planted over 10,000 hectares of new woodland and brought more than 27,000 hectares of existing woodland into management.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst it is for the constituent local authorities to agree their ongoing commitment, Defra Group organisations will continue to support Mersey Forest in its ambition to increase woodland cover to 20 per cent.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:51:36 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

535233

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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	Sahaviriya Steel Industries UK: Redcar
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 she has made of the effect of the closure of the SSI site in Redcar on (a) the natural environment and (b) Teesmouth national nature reserve.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	42347
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/07/2016 answer text <p>Currently, the SSI site is being maintained in a ‘steady state’ which prevents any potential contaminants from entering the natural environment as well as keeping the public safe and the site secure. Teesmouth National Nature Reserve is not directly affected by the closure of the SSI site.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England and the Environment Agency are working together with local business leaders, the Tees Valley Combined Authority and a range of non-government organisations, to explore and identify how existing operations, new economic developments and a series of ambitious environmental enhancements can be taken forward in combination with each other on the estuary. Any future uses of the site would readily be included in this approach.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 15/07/2016 14:24:15 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley

535238

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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	Birds of Prey: 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 steps her Department has taken to protect birds of prey.
tabling member constituency	Hammersmith
tabling member printed	Andy Slaughter
uin	42443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which provides a powerful framework for the conservation of wild birds, their eggs, nests and habitats. The Government is committed to ensuring the protection afforded to wild birds of prey is effectively enforced. There are strong penalties for offenders, including imprisonment.</p><p> </p><p>Raptor persecution is one of six national wildlife crime priorities and is subject to a prevention, intelligence and enforcement plan.</p><p> </p><p>The National Wildlife Crime Unit, which is part funded by Defra, monitors and gathers intelligence on illegal activities affecting birds of prey and provides assistance to police forces when required.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:47:09 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	1516 label Biography information for Andy Slaughter

535243

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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: Ribble Valley
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 she has made of the cost of implementing long-term flood defence systems in areas vulnerable to flooding in Ribble Valley.
tabling member constituency	Ribble Valley
tabling member printed	Mr Nigel Evans
uin	42428
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>A scheme to better protect the Preston and South Ribble area from fluvial and tidal flood risk is at an estimated cost of £32 million, with an allocation of £8 million Flood Defence Grant in Aid within the current six year capital investment programme. The difference is being sought through partnership contributions and through Flood Defence Grant in Aid allocations beyond the current six year capital investment programme.</p><p> </p><p>A scheme to protect Clitheroe from flooding from Mearley Brook would cost £4.8 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and is subject to an ongoing bid for funding.</p><p> </p><p>A future scheme to protect Whalley from flooding from the River Calder would cost approximately £1.4 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and the Environment Agency is currently evaluating the scheme prior to any funding bid.</p><p> </p><p>Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington.</p><p> </p><p>Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder catchment which will develop options and estimated costs to address the main river flooding. The Environment Agency aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence, which will include an evaluation of future costs.</p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:48:59 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	474 label Biography information for Mr Nigel Evans

535244

registered interest
date	11/07/2016
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	Beach Huts: Christchurch
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the application by Christchurch Borough Council to Natural England for SSSI consent for the development of beach huts at Highcliffe, Christchurch was withdrawn; and what costs have been incurred by Natural England in connection with that application.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	42458
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2016 answer text <p>The application for SSSI consent was withdrawn on 6 July. At that point, the cost to Natural England was for staff costs only.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 14/07/2016 10:45:05 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

533859

registered interest
date	08/07/2016
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	Elephants: 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 the Government has made of the appropriateness of the application of the CITES Annex 1 listing to elephants; and what assessment she has made of the potential effect of that listing on the domestic trade in ivory.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	42263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2016 answer text <p>All proposals for the 17<sup>th</sup> Conference of Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are currently being assessed against the established scientific criteria for listings set out in the Convention. Where justified by the scientific evidence, the UK will advocate further protection to support the survival of endangered species. This includes in negotiations with the Member States of the EU to ensure that our positions on proposals are taken into account before the final negotiating position for the EU and its Member States is agreed.</p><p> </p><p>If the elephant uplisting proposal is successful at CoP17, it will prohibit international, commercial trade in ivory apart from in exceptional circumstances. The commercial use of ivory would generally be prohibited domestically, subject to certain exemptions, such as for worked, older pre-Convention items.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Penrith and The Border answering member printed Rory Stewart question first answered 13/07/2016 11:52:20 answering member 4137 label Biography information for Rory Stewart
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy