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1135553

registered interest
date	28/06/2019
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	Nature Conservation: 5G
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 effect of the roll-out of 5G on the sustainability of (a) insects, (b) other animals and (c) other wildlife.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
tabling member printed	Ian Murray
uin	270788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>Defra has funded national and global assessments of the status of pollinators and the factors driving changes in their populations. These assessments do not identify 5G or electromagnetic radiation as a driver.</p><p> </p><p>Defra has not undertaken any formal assessment of the potential effect of the roll out of the 5G network on insects, other animals or other wildlife. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is the lead Department for 5G roll out and I refer the hon. Member to the reply previously given to the hon. Member for Stroud, Dr David Drew, on 29 May 2019 to PQ 256919.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/07/2019 12:47:06 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1135176

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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	Horse Racing
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 his Department has made of the importance of the British thoroughbred racing industry to the UK rural economy.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	270252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to driving sustainable growth in the rural economy. Our world leading horseracing industry employs over 17,000 people nationally and contributes around £3.5 billion to the national economy each year, and plays a significant role in rural areas.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/07/2019 10:53:09 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1135302

registered interest
date	27/06/2019
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	Climate Change
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 effect of a four degree rise in global temperatures on (a) the UK's security, (b) the UK's economy, (c) global security and (d) the global economy.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	270427
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2019 answer text <p>The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report states with high confidence that a four degree rise in global temperatures would have severe and widespread impacts on unique and threatened systems, cause substantial species extinction, pose large risks to global and regional food security, and the combination of high temperature and humidity would compromise normal human activities.</p><p>The Government prepares a UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme, which sets out actions to address the risks identified in the CCRA.</p><p>The second CCRA was published in 2017.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 02/07/2019 16:26:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1134867

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Southern Water
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the findings of OFWAT's recent investigation into whether Southern Water breached its statutory duties and licence obligations, what assessment he has made of the safety of the water supply in Southern Water supplied areas.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough
tabling member printed	Gill Furniss
uin	269772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Ofwat’s recent investigation related to the release of wastewater to the environment.</p><p> </p><p>Drinking water supplied by Southern Water is safe for consumers. Water companies are required to provide safe, wholesome drinking water. The Drinking Water Inspectorate scrutinises the results of treated water sampling by companies in England and Wales. This amounts to over 4 million sample results, over 230,000 of which are provided by Southern Water.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are required to take action when there are issues to be addressed. In the event of short term operational issues affecting supplies, there are well practiced procedures in place for protection of consumers. Companies are also required to rectify issues requiring medium to long term mitigation.</p><p> </p><p>Where the Inspectorate is not satisfied with a company’s response, it will take enforcement actions which range from making suggestions and recommendations through to criminal prosecutions. The Environment Agency is responsible for reporting on the quality of water in the environment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 16:23:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4571 label Biography information for Gill Furniss

1134956

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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 estimate he has made of the quantity of UK plastic waste that has been returned from countries overseas; what steps he is taking to dispose of that waste; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	269660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Waste management is a devolved matter and the figures provided here for plastic waste returned in the years 2016 to 2018 relate to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The tonnages of returned waste shown in the table below are derived from requests made by regulators in other countries to the Environment Agency. When these instances occur the Environment Agency requires the exporter of the waste to make arrangements to bring it back. It is also the responsibility of the exporter to arrange for the returned waste to be dealt with in accordance with the waste hierarchy and in compliance with UK waste legislation.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the corresponding annual tonnage and value of UK plastic waste exports are provided for the purpose of context.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Plastic waste exported from UK, kilotonnes<sup>1</sup></p></td><td><p>Value of plastic waste exports from UK, £m<sup>2</sup></p></td><td><p>Plastic waste returned to England, kilotonnes<sup>3</sup></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>789.9</p></td><td><p>158.2</p></td><td><p>0.03</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017</p></td><td><p>660.7</p></td><td><p>138.7</p></td><td><p>4.19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018</p></td><td><p>611.9</p></td><td><p>107.5</p></td><td><p>1.36</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Sources:</p><p>1 and 2: HMRC customs data</p><p>3: Environment Agency</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 10:14:21 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1134957

registered interest
date	26/06/2019
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	Schools: Energy
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 discussions he has with Cabinet colleagues on requiring schools to be energy independent.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	269661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has not had any recent discussions on this subject. Energy policy is the responsibility of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 16:25:05 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1134439

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Hedgehogs: 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 there has been of the risk that A24 traps pose to hedgehog populations.
tabling member constituency	Bristol West
tabling member printed	Thangam Debbonaire
uin	269077
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>The A24 trap is not approved for trapping hedgehogs. We are confident that hedgehogs can be effectively and safely excluded from the Goodnature A24 trap when it is set according to manufacturer’s instructions and, as is required by law, an excluder tunnel is used. We are also not aware of any evidence which suggests the A24 trap or the excluder tunnel has any impact on hedgehogs.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/07/2019 12:00:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4433 label Biography information for Thangam Debbonaire

1134530

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	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, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the protection and restoration of peat moss in achieving net carbon neutrality for the UK.
tabling member constituency	Altrincham and Sale West
tabling member printed	Sir Graham Brady
uin	268974
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Recently published Government research identified that the emissions from UK peatlands range from 18.5 to 23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per year. Peatland restoration is therefore a key way to mitigate emissions and will play an important role in achieving net carbon neutrality in the UK. We will publish an England Peat Strategy later this year which will set out our approach to protecting and restoring peat.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 09:41:37 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	435 label Biography information for Sir Graham Brady

1134531

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	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, if he will make it his Department's policy to protect remaining areas of peat moss in the UK from development.
tabling member constituency	Altrincham and Sale West
tabling member printed	Sir Graham Brady
uin	268975
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>Around 75% of the area which still supports blanket bog vegetation is already protected from development via a range of statutory conservation designations. Of the remaining area of lowland raised bog which still supports semi-natural vegetation, around 85% is protected.</p><p> </p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) protects irreplaceable habitat from development within its remit, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons to allow it. Whether individual peat moss sites are irreplaceable is a matter of judgement for local authorities to determine when considering applications. Sites are irreplaceable when it is technically very difficult (or would take a very significant time) to restore, recreate or replace once destroyed, taking into account the age, uniqueness, species diversity or rarity.</p><p> </p><p>The NPPF also protected peatlands from development for minerals extraction by ending the granting of new licences for peat extraction.</p><p> </p><p>The government is preparing a peatland strategy which will outline our approach.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 03/07/2019 12:52:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	435 label Biography information for Sir Graham Brady

1134629

registered interest
date	25/06/2019
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	Rural Areas: Loneliness
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 Government Loneliness Strategy, what progress his department has made on convening a rural stakeholder group to (a) advise and support the work of Government Departments and (b) help support the communication of initiatives and good practice at a local level.
tabling member constituency	Newton Abbot
tabling member printed	Anne Marie Morris
uin	269062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>Government has engaged closely with the Loneliness Action Group in the development of, and now implementation of, its loneliness strategy. Defra officials have engaged with the quarterly Loneliness Action Group meetings, to share updates and hear the group's views. The Minister for Sport and Civil Society, who leads Government's work on loneliness, spoke at the Loneliness Action Group conference in May 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to tackling loneliness in rural areas. Last year the Minister for Rural Affairs co-hosted a roundtable on rural loneliness with the Minister for Loneliness.</p><p> </p><p>We share learning and ensure effective implementation via stakeholder engagement. A rural stakeholder forum, a commitment in the Government’s loneliness strategy, was held earlier this year, co-hosted by Defra and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE). This was an opportunity for Government to listen to the challenges faced by rural communities trying to tackle loneliness and for attendees to share good practice. A further forum will be held in the autumn. The Minister for Rural Affairs held a smaller, more focused forum earlier this month. These events are part of ongoing conversations between Government and stakeholders on this important issue.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 269063 question first answered 01/07/2019 10:21:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4249 label Biography information for Anne Marie Morris