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1583291

registered interest
date	02/02/2023
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	Water Charges
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 impact of increases to water bills in 2023 on household finances.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	138338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Water bills will increase by an average of 7.5% or £31 due to the rate of inflation. I am very mindful that consumers are concerned about their bills. Government expects all water companies to make sure customers are aware of the schemes that are available if they need support to pay their bills. This includes bill discount schemes, payment holidays, adjusting payment plans and getting support for customers on managing their personal finances.</p><p> </p><p>I encourage customers to access the Consumer Council for Water’s Advice Hub, which has information and useful tools to help customers reduce their bills or access financial support.</p><p> </p><p>To support people with the cost of living, Government have put in place a substantial package of support. Further information can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/cost-of-living" target="_blank">Cost of living support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 07/02/2023 10:20:32 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1583385

registered interest
date	02/02/2023
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	Neonicotinoids
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 her Department has made of the implications of the relevant advice from the Expert Committee on Pesticides for her decision to provide temporary emergency authorisation to the pesticide Cruiser SB containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Sir Gavin Williamson
uin	138362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>The decision to grant an emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB on the 2023 sugarbeet crop has not been taken lightly. In making this decision, I considered the evidence and the advice provided by the Health and Safety Executive and Expert Committee on Pesticides, as well as Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser and economists.</p><p><br> This emergency authorisation allows a single use of a neonicotinoid on a single crop under very strict conditions to mitigate risks to pollinators and other insects, as well as mammals and birds.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 07/02/2023 12:22:14 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

1583448

registered interest
date	02/02/2023
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to their target in their Environmental Impact Plan to "restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat", whether they have considered the advice of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) that "habitat destruction and degradation could therefore continue in other areas, with negligible positive change overall"; and if so, what estimate they have made of the amount of destruction and degradation that may occur in other areas.
tabling member printed	Lord Foster of Bath
uin	HL5357
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>Due to data limitations, we are not currently able to fully account for habitat lost and so we have not been able to set a target for net habitat restoration and creation. In order to ensure as far as possible that new habitat counted under our target is additional, we will only use reporting from live agri-environment scheme agreements, not count ‘compensatory habitat’ such as new habitat created to replace lost habitat as part of Biodiversity Net Gain, and only count ‘wildlife-rich’ habitats. Furthermore, as the target states that we will create ‘in excess of’ 500,000 hectares, this figure does not limit our ambition for action.</p><p> </p><p>To address the data limitations, we are developing an indicator for quantity, quality and connectivity of habitats as part of the Outcome Indicator Framework under the 25 Year Environment Plan. Work to finalise the methodology to allow the assessment of change in habitat quantity over time, at a national scale, is in development.</p><p> </p><p>The Environmental Improvement Plan set out the actions we are taking that will allow us to meet this ambitious target: we are investing more than £750 million in the environment through our Nature for Climate Fund, we have announced a new Species Survival Fund and we have set a target to raise at least £500 million in private finance to support nature’s recovery every year by 2027, rising to more than £1 billion by 2030.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 08/02/2023 18:00:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	214 label Biography information for Lord Foster of Bath

1582803

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Neonicotinoids
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 (a) impact of the use of thiamethoxam on the UK’s bee population and (b) potential merits of banning the use of thiamethoxam.
tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
uin	137858
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>Risks to bees were assessed as part of the process for considering whether to allow the use of Cruiser SB on sugar beet crops this year. The main area in which potential concerns were flagged was the risk to bees from thiamethoxam taken up by crops planted in the same field after treated sugar beet. For this reason, a restriction has been imposed on such crops which will significantly reduce that risk. Only a specific list of crops, none of which flower before harvest, are permitted to be planted within 32 months of treated sugar beet. This is one of a number of strict conditions designed to mitigate any impact of the treatment on bees and other wildlife.</p><p>The Government continues to support the existing restrictions on neonicotinoids.  We will continue to ensure that decisions on the use of pesticides are based on careful scientific assessment of the risks, with the aim of achieving a high level of protection for people and the environment.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/02/2023 11:00:18 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

1582807

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Pesticides
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 set targets to end the use of hazardous pesticides and protect pollinators.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
tabling member printed	Alex Norris
uin	137991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Pollinators are a priority for this Government. The National Pollinator Strategy Action Plan was published in May 2022, which sets out how we are restoring and creating habitat to help pollinators thrive, and addressing pressures on their populations. Our Healthy Bees Plan 2030 outlines our work to improve honeybee health, and we are supporting monitoring and research through the Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>A pesticide may only be placed on the market in Great Britain if the product has been authorised by our expert regulator, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), following a thorough scientific risk assessment, that concludes all safety standards are met. Pesticides that pose unacceptable risks are not authorised.</p><p> </p><p>We are assessing the potential role of targets to support our policy ambitions, and further details will be outlined in our National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP), to be published in the first half of this year.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 07/02/2023 11:56:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1582866

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Sewage: Warwick and Leamington
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 sewage discharges were made into the (a) River Leam and (b) River Avon within Warwick and Leamington constituency in (i) 2021, (ii) 2022 and (iii) the period between September and December (A) 2021 and (B) 2022.
tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
tabling member printed	Matt Western
uin	137891
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency collates discharge data from Water and Sewerage Companies for storm overflows and for 2020 and 2021 the data is published <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fenvironment.data.gov.uk%2Fdataset%2F21e15f12-0df8-4bfc-b763-45226c16a8ac&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cwaterindustryteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C058943d1cc684c5d0fb508db05180d8c%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638109373075803165%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=zc1bLw1g5XWW3yqnWCkNLLI2r0XWKSKd%2F8LuYpWYJjc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>. The 2022 data will be published in March 2023.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 06/02/2023 14:00:11 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1582867

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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, if she will make an estimate of the number of (a) sparrows, (b) robins, (c) blue tits, (d) gold finches and (e) green finches in the UK (i) as of 1 February 2023 and (ii) in 2012.
tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
tabling member printed	Matt Western
uin	137892
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2023 answer text <p>Annual population estimates do not exist for most UK bird species. The Avian Population Estimates Panel estimates of the for these species in 2020 and 2013 are as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Species</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>UK population estimate in 2020</strong> <strong>(number of breeding pairs)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>UK population estimate in 2013</strong> <strong>(number of breeding pairs)</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>House sparrow</p></td><td><p>5,300,000</p></td><td><p>5,100,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tree sparrow</p></td><td><p>245,000</p></td><td><p>200,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Robin</p></td><td><p>7,350,000</p></td><td><p>6,700,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Blue tit</p></td><td><p>3,400,000</p></td><td><p>3,600,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Goldfinch</p></td><td><p>1,650,000</p></td><td><p>1,200,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Greenfinch</p></td><td><p>785,000</p></td><td><p>1,700,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 07/02/2023 16:10:45 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1582877

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Litter: Nitrous Oxide
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 her Department has taken recent steps to reduce litter caused by the recreational use of nitrous oxide canisters; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	137730
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2023 answer text <p>It is an offence to drop litter, and in recent years we have bolstered councils' powers to take enforcement action by almost doubling the upper fixed penalty limit for littering to £150. Furthermore, The Anti-social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced powers, such as Public Space Protection Orders, which the police and local councils can use to prevent people from taking intoxicating substances, such as nitrous oxide, in specified areas.</p><p>In September 2021, the Government asked the independent statutory advisory body, the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), to provide advice on whether nitrous oxide should be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The ACMD is independent of Government and can provide a broad range of recommendations, including advice on regulatory or legislative changes. The Government will consider the ACMD advice carefully before deciding how to proceed.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 06/02/2023 12:48:39 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1582892

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
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 border posts her Department plans to erect in Northern Ireland as a result of the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	137799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>My officials have commenced work to assess how Defra will exercise the powers contained in the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023. My officials have commenced assessment and will provide an update to the House in due course.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 08/02/2023 17:34:10 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson

1582894

registered interest
date	01/02/2023
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	Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
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 her Department has made of the cost of potential border control posts in Northern Ireland as a result of the Official Controls (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
tabling member constituency	East Antrim
tabling member printed	Sammy Wilson
uin	137800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>A business case for the construction of SPS inspection facilities in Northern Ireland will be prepared. I will provide an update to the House in due course.</p><p> </p><p>The latest information available as to costs borne by DAERA is set out in my answer to the Rt Hon member for Lagan Valley of 28 November to PQ 92116.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer grouped question UIN 137801 question first answered 08/02/2023 17:30:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1593 label Biography information for Sammy Wilson