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1109731

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	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 his Department has reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act; and whether he has any plans to implement similar such legislation in the UK.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Tom Watson
uin	240979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>No, the Government has not reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act. The UK introduced a similar integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water and land with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as well as the concept of Best Available Techniques. These approaches have subsequently been adopted and applied across the EU through the Industrial Emissions Directive, which sets challenging industry standards for the most polluting industries.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:43:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

1109739

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Agriculture: Carbon Emissions
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 had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero emissions target for farming.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>There is no record of the Secretary of State having discussions with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero target for farming.</p><p>In October 2018, Government commissioned advice on our long-term targets from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change, including on the setting of a net zero target. We will consider their evidence-based advice carefully when it is received.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:13:42 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109741

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Cultural Heritage: Environment Protection
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 had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the exclusion of heritage from the Environment Bill.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular meetings and discussions with colleagues from across Whitehall concerning the forthcoming Environment Bill.</p><p> </p><p>Heritage is not specifically excluded from the draft Environment Bill. The only policy areas explicitly and completely excluded from the definition of environmental law are listed in the draft Bill. Provisions of legislation on cultural heritage would fall under the definition if they are mainly concerned with one of the matters listed in relation to the natural environment. The definition of environmental law does not affect the content of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The framework for environmental principles to be established by the Environment Bill will also apply to policy on cultural heritage.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Bill will require Government to have a plan for improving the natural environment which will be subject to monitoring, annual reporting, and regular review and revision. The existing 25 Year Environment Plan, which will become the first such statutory plan, recognises the close relationship between heritage and the natural environment and it is expected that this will continue to be reflected in future revisions.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:53:00 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109743

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Soil: Environment Protection
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 potential merits of including soil health in the indicator frameworks for environmental progress and in legally binding future targets.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Our recent consultation on an indicator framework for measuring progress against the 25 Year Environment Plan proposed inclusion of an indicator of healthy soils.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation document proposed measurements of soil properties which could be included in this indicator, however the full specification of this indicator will be developed when Defra research into innovative monitoring for soils completes at the end of 2019.</p><p> </p><p>We are considering the consultation responses as well as the outputs from a workshop of soil stakeholders. We will be publishing our updated, finalised indicator framework alongside the 25 Year Environment Plan annual review in due course.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2018, the Government confirmed that it was exploring options for including cross-cutting targets for environmental improvement as part of the broader governance framework being established through the Environment Bill. We would expect any targets to contribute to implementing the 25 Year Environment Plan goals.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:33:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109770

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Seas and Oceans: Wind Power
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 assessment his Department has made of the effect of consented offshore wind on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	241059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Consent is required from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to construct, extend or operate any offshore generating stations with a generating capacity of between 1 and 100 megawatts (MW). Stations which would generate more than 100MW are classed as <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-licensing-nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects" target="_blank">nationally significant infrastructure projects</a> and require a development consent order granted by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Some electricity generating works may be subject to regulation under the <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1927/contents/made" target="_blank">Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended)</a> and require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted to the MMO alongside the main application. EIAs are required to include a description of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment, including any effects on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, offshore wind farms are required to have pre and post consent monitoring plans which are managed by the MMO. For example, a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP) lists the appropriate mitigation measures that should be utilised during offshore activities that are likely to produce underwater noise and vibration levels capable of potentially causing injury and disturbance to marine mammals.</p><p> </p><p>Any environmental assessment, including EIAs and MMMPs, submitted as part of any application are available online via the <a href="https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/register-of-applications/" target="_blank">Planning Inspectorate’s national register of applications</a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-marine-licence-register" target="_blank">MMO’s public register</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:38:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley

1109791

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Fracking
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 his Department has to ensure that the Government’s fracking proposals do not disrupt local wildlife and biodiversity.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	241060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Statutory consultees including Natural England (NE) and the Environment Agency (EA) are consulted by the relevant Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) when a planning application for hydraulic fracturing development is received. NE is consulted if the proposed development is likely to affect a protected site (Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar Wetland, or a potential SPA, possible SAC or a proposed Ramsar Wetland). NE has published ‘Impact Risk Zones’ which can be used to check if the planning proposal relates to land on or near a protected site. In addition MPAs will assess impacts on locally protected sites.</p><p> </p><p>MPAs use NE’s standing advice for protected species when reviewing planning applications and will contact NE if the matter is not covered by the advice. NE may need to issue European Protected Species Licences in certain circumstances. Developers are also encouraged to contact NE at pre-application stages to help ensure that their applications fully take account of potential impacts and that measures are put in place to avoid or mitigate those impacts as well as maximising opportunities for biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>In applying to the EA for environmental permits, operators are also required to consider the effect that their activity may have on protected sites, habitats and species. Where any sites of heritage and nature conservation, or protected species and habitats are identified, they may need to consult other bodies such as NE and can enforce permit conditions to protect habitats.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:49:09 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1109811

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Birds: 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 potential merits of restricting the use of netting across trees and hedgerows during the bird-nesting season.
tabling member constituency	Warley
tabling member printed	John Spellar
uin	240948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2019 answer text <p>We all have a responsibility to our local environment and its inhabitants and this applies to developers too. When associated with development these sorts of practices should only be used to help protect birds. We expect local planning authorities to look at these practices closely and take action where necessary. Guidance is available for local authorities.</p><p> </p><p>The revised National Planning Policy Framework is clear that planning policies and decisions should contribute to, and enhance, the natural and local environment by minimising the impacts on, and providing net gains for, biodiversity.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/04/2019 12:47:30 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1109820

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	National Parks
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 his Department will make an assessment of the potential benefits of increasing the number of national parks.
tabling member constituency	South Holland and The Deepings
tabling member printed	Sir John Hayes
uin	240949
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2019 answer text <p>Natural England is responsible for appraising suggestions for new or extended designated areas. This is a statutory process set out in Part IV of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.</p><p> </p><p>A review of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (designated landscapes) was launched in May. It is being led by Julian Glover and is considering the case for the extension or creation of new designated areas. We expect the review to report in autumn 2019.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/04/2019 13:25:56 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	350 label Biography information for Sir John Hayes

1109859

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Fire Prevention
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 information he has received from the England and Wales Wildlife Forum on the effectiveness of the Fire Safety Index.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	240933
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Natural England are currently working with the Met Office and the National Parks to objectively review the operation of the Fire Severity Index (FSI), based on the relevant science. We have had contact with the England and Wales Wildfire Forum and they will be invited to provide information on the effectiveness of the FSI during the on-going stakeholder engagement process.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:59:04 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

1109860

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Fires
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 representations he has received from the Uplands Management Group on wildfire management plans.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
uin	240934
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>The Uplands Management Group (UMG) were commissioned by Defra to develop guidance on Wildfire Management Plans. We have seen initial representations during this process and await finalised guidance from the Group.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:43:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching