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1524145

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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: 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 assessment he has made of the implications of the finding of the The London Flood Review findings on flooding in London on 12 and 25 July 2021 including on risk to homes of flooding by effluvia in the event of very heavy rainfall and flooding.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	67199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government fully recognises the impact flooding incidents have on individuals and communities and sympathises with those affected. Flooding has a devastating effect, both in terms of physical damage and impacts on health, including mental health, and financially.</p><p> </p><p>Following the flooding in London last July, local risk management authorities and other partners, led by the Mayor of London and London Councils, came together to discuss how best to mitigate surface water flood risk. This culminated in a Task and Finish Group, co-chaired by the Environment Agency, that looked at a range of issues and made a series of recommendations. Alongside this, Thames Water commissioned an independent review into the performance of its network. The final report sets out several recommendations for Thames Water and other partners.</p><p> </p><p>Since then, they have formed a London Strategic Surface Water Group, which will meet for the first time in December. The Group will ensure that the findings of the London Flood Review are considered and, where there is agreement, who is best placed to implement them. The Environment Agency’s London Area Director and an independent member of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee are members of the Group.</p><p> </p><p>Having a robust drainage system, both now and for future demand, is crucial in helping to mitigate environmental surface water flooding impacts. To ensure this, the Environment Act 2021 places a new duty on water companies to produce comprehensive Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, setting out how they will manage and develop their drainage and sewerage networks over the long-term.</p><p> </p><p>These plans will provide a full assessment of the condition and capacity of the nation’s sewer networks. They are being developed in collaboration with other risk management authorities, identifying collaborative short, medium and long-term solutions on a way forward which could include sewerage upgrades where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>My officials are in touch with the local Environment Agency team and external partners on these matters.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 67200 question first answered 24/10/2022 15:03:53 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1524146

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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: 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 steps he has taken with local authorities to improve London’s sewage infrastructure to prepare for flooding.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	67200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>HM Government fully recognises the impact flooding incidents have on individuals and communities and sympathises with those affected. Flooding has a devastating effect, both in terms of physical damage and impacts on health, including mental health, and financially.</p><p> </p><p>Following the flooding in London last July, local risk management authorities and other partners, led by the Mayor of London and London Councils, came together to discuss how best to mitigate surface water flood risk. This culminated in a Task and Finish Group, co-chaired by the Environment Agency, that looked at a range of issues and made a series of recommendations. Alongside this, Thames Water commissioned an independent review into the performance of its network. The final report sets out several recommendations for Thames Water and other partners.</p><p> </p><p>Since then, they have formed a London Strategic Surface Water Group, which will meet for the first time in December. The Group will ensure that the findings of the London Flood Review are considered and, where there is agreement, who is best placed to implement them. The Environment Agency’s London Area Director and an independent member of the Thames Regional Flood and Coastal Committee are members of the Group.</p><p> </p><p>Having a robust drainage system, both now and for future demand, is crucial in helping to mitigate environmental surface water flooding impacts. To ensure this, the Environment Act 2021 places a new duty on water companies to produce comprehensive Drainage and Sewerage Management Plans, setting out how they will manage and develop their drainage and sewerage networks over the long-term.</p><p> </p><p>These plans will provide a full assessment of the condition and capacity of the nation’s sewer networks. They are being developed in collaboration with other risk management authorities, identifying collaborative short, medium and long-term solutions on a way forward which could include sewerage upgrades where appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>My officials are in touch with the local Environment Agency team and external partners on these matters.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 67199 question first answered 24/10/2022 15:03:53 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1524147

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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: 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 assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of regreening areas of London to improve flooding preparedness by managing surface water run off.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	67201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The risk management of surface water flooding is the responsibility of lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) in partnership with highways authorities and water companies. It is for LLFAs to determine the best approach to mitigating the risk, including the use of blue green infrastructure such as regreening.</p><p> </p><p>HM Government fully supports the use of blue green infrastructure, including sustainable drainage systems, grey water recycling and natural flood management where these are appropriate to help manage surface water. We have placed a greater emphasis on this in our 25 Year Environment Plan, our Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Policy Statement and through updated planning policy.</p><p> </p><p>HM Government made changes to its capital programme’s partnership funding rules to enable more surface water schemes – over the lifetime of the 2021-2027 capital programme the Environment Agency expect that at least one third of schemes will support surface water flood management. In addition, we have launched a new £100 million frequently flooded allowance to support communities that have experienced frequent flooding from any source, and are running a £200 million innovative resilience fund across 25 LLFA areas, many of which are exploring solutions to tackle surface water.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 15:10:34 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1524148

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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	Thames Flood Barrier
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 has taken with relevant authorities to ensure that the Thames barrier will be able to cope with fast and heavy rainfall.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	67202
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>London is at risk from many and varied sources of flooding – including tidal, surface water, and groundwater flooding.</p><p> </p><p>Surface water flooding is localised and complex. It can happen very quickly, be difficult to predict and can be exacerbated by the impermeable built environment and an overwhelmed drainage system.</p><p> </p><p>HM Government is committed to tackling this risk and in April 2020, we made changes to the partnership funding policy to enable more surface water schemes in our new £5.2 billion flood defence programme. Approximately 34% of the 2,000 flood defences planned will be for surface water management.  This includes £29.4 million being spent in London – over three times the amount that was allocated in the previous investment programme. Combined with partnership funding, this investment is forecast to better protect 2,590 properties by 2027.</p><p> </p><p>Since 1982, the Thames Barrier has been protecting London from flooding caused by tidal surges. It works with the complex systems of assets (including flood walls, gates, embankments and smaller assets) along the Thames and its tributaries to prevent flooding to London’s homes, businesses and key infrastructure. This is what it is designed to do. It does not have a role in mitigating other forms of flooding, such as from surface water.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency currently closes the Thames Barrier 5 times a year on average to prevent tidal flooding. We expect the Thames Barrier to continue to protect London from tidal flooding up until 2070. The Thames Estuary 2100 Plan identifies several long-term options for a future Thames Barrier to protect the Thames Estuary and London to the end of the century and beyond.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 16:05:41 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1524168

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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, whether he plans to mark the 70th anniversary of the Great Smog.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	66868
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>Defra has no current plans to mark the 70<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Great Smog.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 15:48:16 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1524169

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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	Environment Protection: 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, with reference to the report released by the Wildlife and Countryside Link, published on 19 October 2022, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the conclusion that the UK may miss its nature pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea by 2030 unless the Government's plans to deregulate environmental protections are reversed.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	67203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>We are committed to delivering our legally binding target to halt nature’s decline by 2030 and to all our international commitments and objectives for biodiversity, including our commitment to protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (30by30).</p><p> </p><p>The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose and able to drive improved environmental outcomes.</p><p> </p><p>In the Nature Recovery Green Paper, HM Government set out initial proposals to reform the Habitat Regulations and outlined the approach to 30by30. We are reviewing responses and will consider any appropriate legislative vehicles or relevant powers to implement any confirmed proposals, including the Retained EU Law Bill. We are also now working at pace with Natural England, Joint Nature Conservation Committee and external experts and partners to develop the assessment criteria that will inform what land will count towards 30by30 and how it will be protected, managed and monitored.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 15:29:13 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1524359

registered interest
date	19/10/2022
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	Environment Protection: Investment Zones
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 is taking to steps to ensure that (a) environmental protections and (b) ancient woodlands will not be negatively affected by the creation of investment zones.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North
tabling member printed	Patrick Grady
uin	67072
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>We are committed to halting the decline of nature by 2030 and will not undermine our obligations to the environment in pursuit of growth. A strong environment and a strong economy go hand in hand. We have legislated through the Environment Act and will continue to improve our regulations, marine protections and wildlife laws in line with our ambitious vision.</p><p>Making sure that our ancient woodlands are adequately protected and suitably managed to provide a wide range of social, environmental and economic benefits to society remains a key HM Government commitment.</p><p>The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that development resulting in the loss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats (such as ancient woodland and ancient or veteran trees) should be refused, unless there are wholly exceptional reasons and a suitable compensation strategy exists.</p><p>Natural England and the Forestry Commission have published 'standing advice' for ancient woodland, ancient trees and veteran trees. It is a material planning consideration for local planning authorities (LPAs) and as such should be taken into account when making planning decisions that affect ancient woodland, ancient trees or veteran trees.</p><p>HM Government have also recently updated the new Keepers of Time policy, providing updates to HM Government's policy to recognise the value of England's ancient and native woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. It restates our commitment to evaluate the threats facing these habitats and sets out our updated principles and objectives to protect and improve them for future generations.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 16:01:30 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4432 label Biography information for Patrick Grady

1523422

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
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	Marine Environment: North East
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 a peer review was undertaken of his Department’s conclusion that an algae bloom was probably to blame for the die off of sea creatures off the North East coast over the last year.
tabling member constituency	Stockton North
tabling member printed	Alex Cunningham
uin	65750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>Defra group, including the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and the Environment Agency, carried out a thorough investigation seeking causes of the mass mortality incident that occurred towards the end of 2021. A summary of this investigation was published in May. As the May publication was an investigation summary rather than a technical report, we did not seek a peer review, in line with normal practice. The algal bloom conclusions were based on the best available evidence in the time allowed. Priority was given to information from peer-reviewed literature, standardised research techniques and accredited testing methodology.</p><p> </p><p>It is intended that the ongoing Cefas research and development will undergo peer review ahead of publication next year, due to generating primary evidence. All data relating to the conclusions of the initial investigation are due to be published in the coming weeks. This will inform the on-going collaboration between HM Government scientists and external researchers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 24/10/2022 12:06:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4122 label Biography information for Alex Cunningham

1523888

registered interest
date	18/10/2022
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 Land Management Schemes
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farm businesses are participating in Environmental Land Management scheme programmes according to the direct payments (a) under £30,000 (b) £30,000-£50,000 (c) £50,000-£150,000 (d) more than £150,000 received by each business in the last full year.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
uin	65819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>The Sustainable Farming Incentive is the first of the new environmental land management schemes. As of 18<sup>th</sup> October 2022, the following number of farm businesses entered into agreement worth:</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Payment Grouping</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Count</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Under £30K</p></td><td><p>1543</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£30K - £50K</p></td><td><p>60</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£50K - £150K</p></td><td><p>41</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>More than £150K</p></td><td><p>2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>TOTAL</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1646</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 24/10/2022 11:35:49 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1523049

registered interest
date	17/10/2022
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 Disposal: Monitoring
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 introducing mandatory digital waste tracking across the UK by 31 December 2022.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	64231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2022 answer text <p>Earlier this year my Department consulted on proposals for the introduction of mandatory digital waste tracking and a consultation stage impact assessment was published alongside this consultation.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 24/10/2022 15:43:34 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq