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1078468

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
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	Packaging: Regulation
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 reduce the amount of excessive and unnecessary packaging materials being used; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	226515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan, published in January 2018, its commitment to reform the packaging producer responsibility system. Our Resources and Waste Strategy was published in December 2018 and contains details on how we will do this, including measures to incentivise packaging producers to make better, more sustainable decisions at the design stage and point of manufacture. Through replacing the current system with Extended Producer Responsibility we will require producers to fund the full net cost of managing the packaging they place on the market, once it becomes waste. These measures will provide a strong incentive to producers to reduce the amount of packaging they use and to make packaging that is more easily collected and recycled. The proposals are open to consultation until 13 May 2019 and can be found here: <a href="https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/consultation-on-reforming-the-uk-packaging-produce/" target="_blank">https://consult.defra.gov.uk/environmental-quality/consultation-on-reforming-the-uk-packaging-produce/</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also committed in the Resources and Waste Strategy to review the effectiveness of the Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2015 by the end of 2020. These regulations set out rules that producers of packaging must follow when designing packaging, including the requirement that packaging should be kept to a minimum volume and weight.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 09:16:37 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1078605

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
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	Palm Oil
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 domestic demand for palm oil in the biofuel and food industries; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Gedling
tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
uin	226536
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p><strong></strong></p><p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to support and protect the world’s forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and zero-deforestation supply chains, including for palm oil. The plan led to the establishment of a Global Resource Initiative aimed at reducing deforestation caused by UK demand for commodities, including palm oil.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also helped convene the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and is working with the signatories of the Amsterdam Declaration on increasing the uptake of sustainable palm oil. The latest report from the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil indicates that the UK achieved 75% certified sustainable palm oil in 2017.</p><p> </p><p>Biofuels made from palm oil have not been reported for supply under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) in the last three years and the use of non-waste oils in biofuel is minimal. The Government has agreed to focus on utilising waste derived biofuels, which generally have higher greenhouse gas savings. The most recent changes to the RTFO, which set out the UK biofuel policy to 2032, include a cap on the contribution of crop based biofuels in the UK, decreasing from 4% in 2020 to 2% in 2032.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 15:30:42 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

1078610

registered interest
date	27/02/2019
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	Palm Oil
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 sustainability of palm oil production; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Gedling
tabling member printed	Vernon Coaker
uin	226537
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan sets out our ambition to support and protect the world’s forests, supporting sustainable agriculture and zero-deforestation supply chains, including for palm oil.</p><p> </p><p>The market for sustainable palm oil is dominated by the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and so ’sustainable’ in this context is commonly understood to mean products certified to RSPO standards and criteria.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil convened by the UK Government is working to improve reporting, traceability and understanding of supply chains to ensure continuous improvement and increased use of certified palm oil. The UK monitors the proportion of certified sustainable palm oil imported to the UK. The latest annual report from the UK Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil indicates that the UK achieved 75% certified sustainable palm oil in 2017.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 15:14:09 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	360 label Biography information for Lord Coaker

1077515

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	Nature 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, whether he has plans to preserve rare and native breeds by categorising genetic resources as public goods.
tabling member constituency	South Suffolk
tabling member printed	James Cartlidge
uin	226184
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Agriculture Bill sets out an ambitious future for farming outside of the EU, moving towards a system where public money is invested in things which the public value, in particular protecting and enhancing our environment. Public goods include clean air, clean and plentiful water, and thriving plants and wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>Farmers and land managers can deliver these public goods through managing their assets. Genetic resources are an important asset. For example, preserving genetic resources can strengthen pest and disease resilience which contributes towards improving the health and welfare of livestock (clause 1(1)(f) of Agriculture Bill). Similarly, grazing native, local breeds in upland areas can contribute towards enhancement of our cultural and natural heritage (clause 1(1)(c) of Agriculture Bill).</p><p><em> </em></p><p>The financial assistance powers in clause 1(1) and 1(2) in the Agriculture Bill could be used to support genetic resources where this contributes to the delivery of the purpose set out in the clause.</p><p><em> </em></p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 12:06:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4519 label Biography information for James Cartlidge

1077578

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	Microplastics
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 (a) prevent microplastics from entering the natural environment and (b) tackle the damage caused by microplastics that are in the natural environment.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
uin	226197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>Defra funded a 5-year-long study to investigate the potential harm caused by microplastics in the marine environment. On the basis of the results of this study, last year we introduced one of the world’s strongest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products. Microbeads, like other microplastics, do not biodegrade and therefore accumulate in the environment.</p><p> </p><p>To address the evidence gaps surrounding other sources of microplastics, we are funding research by the University of Plymouth into textiles and tyres which are estimated to be significant sources of microplastics in the marine environment.</p><p> </p><p>Water infrastructure is an important pathway for contaminants, including microplastics, to enter the aquatic environment. We are working with water companies and researchers to understand the scale of the issue, evaluate the effectiveness of treatment systems at removing microplastics and assess the impacts of microplastics in aquatic environments.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority will continue to be preventing plastic entering the environment in the first place and eliminating avoidable plastic waste over the lifetime of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The Resources and Waste Strategy, published in December last year, sets out our plans to eliminate avoidable plastic waste. We will take action at each stage of the product lifecycle: production, consumption and end of life.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 09:08:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

1077589

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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
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 phase out the (a) production and (b) use of unneeded plastics.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Danielle Rowley
uin	226198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>This Government is taking action to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We have introduced one of the world’s toughest bans on microbeads in rinse-off personal care products, and have significantly reduced the use of plastic bags by around 86% with our 5p carrier bag charge. We recognise that more needs to be done, which is why we have set out an ambitious approach in our 25 Year Environment Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The Resources and Waste Strategy, published December last year, sets out our plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. We will take action at each stage of the product lifecycle: production, consumption and end of life. At the production stage, this includes encouraging producers to take more responsibility for the environmental impact of their products and making sure plastic items are more carefully designed. At the consumer stage we want to reduce demand for single-use plastic. At the end of life stage, we will make it easier for people to recycle and increase the amount of plastic being recycled.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has set out proposals to reform the current packaging producer responsibility regulations, invoking the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle to financially incentivise producers to take greater responsibility for the environmental impacts of packaging they place on the market. This includes mechanisms to incentivise better design, encourage the use of recycled material and ensure that producers pay the full costs of disposal for packaging they place on the market. These measures aim to reduce the amount of unnecessary and difficult to recycle packaging and increase the amount of packaging that can and is recycled, including plastic packaging. We are currently consulting on these proposals in conjunction with the Scottish Government. The consultation will close on 13 May and can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-overhaul-waste-system" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-plans-to-overhaul-waste-system</a>.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 15:20:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4628 label Biography information for Danielle Rowley

1077669

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	Sea Bass
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 will take to tackle the problem of illegal landing of undersized bass; and for what reason the Cornwall Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority might face a legal challenge if they prohibited gill net meshes from 89 mm to 109 mm in order to stop this practice.
tabling member constituency	North Cornwall
tabling member printed	Scott Mann
uin	226177
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>There are clear rules in place requiring that undersized catches of species not yet subject to the landing obligation, such as bass, are not retained on board, trans-shipped, landed, transported, stored, sold, displayed or offered for sale, but shall be returned immediately to the sea. This is a long standing principle which will continue to be enforced accordingly.</p><p> </p><p>Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) are independent statutory authorities and have direct responsibility for the protection of sea fisheries resources in their districts, and for the sustainable management of their exploitation. When an activity is occurring, or may occur, that is likely to impact the marine environment, the IFCA, as regulator, is expected to consider the significance of this within its district. Cornwall IFCA recently considered using its powers under Section 157(2) of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to introduce an emergency byelaw to address bass netting issues. However, this was judged to not fully meet the qualifying criteria for an emergency byelaw as stated in the Act and could potentially be challenged on those grounds.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 12:17:39 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4496 label Biography information for Scott Mann

1077703

registered interest
date	26/02/2019
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	Air Pollution: Liverpool City Region
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 the Liverpool City Region Mayor on tackling air pollution in the Liverpool City Region area.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	226061
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended the Clean Air Summit on 14 February with the Liverpool City Region Mayor and city leaders from across the country.</p><p> </p><p>A range of issues were discussed at the Summit including the ambitious goals set out in our new Clean Air Strategy, the need to focus on reducing emissions from a variety of sources, and support for local authorities with powers and funding.</p><p> </p><p>Defra officials have regular and ongoing engagement with those local authorities named in the 2017 Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations to support them in considering measures to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances in their areas, including Liverpool City Council.</p><p> </p><p>Liverpool City Council have been directed to develop a local plan by 31 October 2019 and on 28 February this year presented an update on their plan to senior representatives in the Joint Air Quality Unit.</p><p> </p><p>Due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these hotspots. Local authorities, including Liverpool, are considering a range of measures to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances, including, where appropriate, charging Clean Air Zones.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 09:19:17 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1077127

registered interest
date	25/02/2019
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	Livestock: 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 he is taking to protect rare breeds of UK (a) cattle, (b) sheep and (c) pigs.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	225511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The UK has one of the richest native rare breed populations in the world and their importance is recognised at both international and UK levels. We have identified 104 UK native breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>To protect our native rare breeds Defra works with the Farm Animal Genetic Resources Committee and the evolved administrations on all rare breed issues, particularly their conservation and sustainable use.</p><p> </p><p>We have:</p><ol><li><p>Established an <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-farm-animal-genetic-resources-fangr-breed-inventory-results" target="_blank">Annual Inventory</a> to provide data on populations of breeds.</p></li><li><p>Published the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-country-report-on-farm-animal-genetic-resources-2012" target="_blank">UK Country Report on Farm Animal Genetic Resources</a> which, in part, outlines conservation plans and priorities for specialist and native breeds.</p></li><li><p>Carried out annual reviews of the lists of Breeds at Risk present in the UK using statistics taken from the Annual Inventory.</p></li><li><p>Created contingency plan guidance for Breeds at Risk in the event of an exotic disease.</p></li></ol><p> </p><p>Some rare native breeds are also supported through agri-environment schemes. Details on total agreements and value of funding under Defra run schemes, including Environmental Stewardship (HR2) and Countryside Stewardship (SP8) (grazing supplement for rare native breeds), for the years 2015–2018 are:</p><p> </p><p>2015 – 1,454 agreements totalling £2,958,854</p><p>2016 – 1,404 agreements totalling £2,832,800</p><p>2017 – 1,340 agreements totalling £2,707,668</p><p>2018 – 1,310 agreements totalling £2,719,028</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/03/2019 11:48:27 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1077159

registered interest
date	25/02/2019
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	Air Pollution: Greater London
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 the Mayor of London on tackling air pollution in London.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	225577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs attended the Clean Air Summit on 14 February with the Mayor of London, Metro Mayors and city leaders from across the country. A range of issues were discussed at the Summit including the ambitious goals set out in our new Clean Air Strategy, the need to focus on reducing emissions from a variety of sources, and support for local authorities with powers and funding.</p><p> </p><p>My officials have regular and ongoing engagement with those local authorities named in the 2017 Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations, to support them in considering measures to address nitrogen dioxide exceedances in their areas. Due to the highly localised nature of the problem, local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these hotspots. Local authorities are considering a range of measures to tackle their nitrogen dioxide exceedances, including, where appropriate, charging Clean Air Zones.</p><p> </p><p>I met the Mayor for the West Midlands, Andy Street, earlier this month and discussed the progress of local authorities in the West Midlands who are developing local air quality plans. I have also spoken with the Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, this month about the development of Bristol’s local air quality plan.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey grouped question UIN 225586 225587 question first answered 04/03/2019 15:46:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West