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1690125

registered interest
date	19/02/2024
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	Food: UK Trade with EU
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 impact of pausing proposals reclassifying (a) fruits and (b) root vegetables from the EU as medium risk on (i) retailers and (ii) consumers.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	14731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>Defra is not reclassifying fruit and vegetables. A temporary easement has been put in place for fruit and vegetables imported to GB.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 27/02/2024 14:13:00 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1653559

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
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	Rivers: Suffolk
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 her Department is taking to help improve the environmental condition of the River Gipping in Suffolk.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	194593
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency, whilst taking account of the aspirations of other river users, works with partners to restore a more naturally functioning river which will support natural habitats and a rich biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>Using Defra’s Water Environment Improvement Fund, the Environment Agency has worked with Suffolk Wildlife Trust on several projects to enhance wildlife and the resilience of the river environment to the impacts of climate change. The Environment Agency has also funded Groundwork to deliver the Yellow Fish Project (<a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Foilcare.org.uk%2Favoid-pollution%2Fyellow-fish&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Ca9cdbf69141a401e610108db8c58363d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638258082707015265%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=LrpO6jXFdYg3zH6XWUfTnVjMg4lGgn9iNWnYCc1UAOY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://oilcare.org.uk/avoid-pollution/yellow-fish</a>) which focused on pollution prevention messages to the community, businesses and schools in the towns of Needham Market and Stowmarket in 2019/20. A further Yellow fish project is currently running in Ipswich in 2023-4 including on the lower River Gipping funded by the Environment Agency.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency continues to hold water companies to account to reduce pollution, tackle storm overflows and invest more into the environment; work with farmers to support environmentally friendly farming that doesn’t damage water quality; respond to environmental incidents to stop and reverse damage to our rivers as well as prosecute the most serious polluters. As well as the protection of water quality, the Environment Agency has a permitting and regulatory system that protects water quantity. Additionally the Environment Agency has a regulatory role to ensure that physical modification does not reduce the ecological and biological value of the river. This could include things such as the removal of bankside trees and vegetation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 25/07/2023 10:30:48 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1653560

registered interest
date	17/07/2023
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	Rivers: Suffolk
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 adequacy of the environmental condition of the River Gipping in Suffolk.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	194594
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency monitors the water quality, ecology (plants, invertebrates and fish) rainfall, river flows and groundwater levels of the River Gipping and its catchment. The Environment Agency delivered a fish survey report in 2019 for the River Gipping which indicated that fish populations within the river are stable, with an average of 10 species being recorded at each of the five survey sites. A further survey was completed this year and the results are still being analysed. The river is currently at Moderate Ecological Potential, with a target to achieve Good Ecological Potential by 2027. The main sources of pollution are agriculture and the water industry and there is a growing threat from plastics and forever chemicals.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 25/07/2023 10:18:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1563523

registered interest
date	20/12/2022
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	Rivers: Suffolk
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 environmental condition of the River Gipping in Suffolk.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	114816
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/01/2023 answer text <p>The Environment Agency monitors the water quality, ecology (plants, invertebrates and fish), rainfall, river flows and groundwater levels of the River Gipping and its catchment. The Environment Agency delivered a fish survey report in 2019 for the River Gipping which indicated that fish populations in the river are stable, with an average of 10 species being recorded at each of the five survey sites. A further survey was completed this year and the results are still being analysed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The river is currently at Moderate Ecological Potential, with a target to achieve Good Ecological Potential by 2027.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 10/01/2023 10:32:52 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1563524

registered interest
date	20/12/2022
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	Rivers: Suffolk
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 her Department is taking to help improve the environmental condition of the River Gipping in Suffolk.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	114817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2023 answer text <p>The Government is committed to improving water quality. In August 2022 we launched the storm overflows plan which will require water companies to deliver their largest ever environmental infrastructure investment - £56 billion capital investment over 25 years. In December we announced our ambitious suite of legally binding Environment Act targets, including four targets to address pressures on the water environment. The Environment Agency works with partners to restore a more naturally functioning river which will support natural habitats and a rich biodiversity. Using Defra’s Water Environment Improvement Fund, the Environment Agency has worked with Suffolk Wildlife Trust on several projects to enhance wildlife and the resilience of the river environment to the impacts of climate change. The Environment Agency has also funded Groundwork to deliver the Yellow Fish Project (<a href="http://oilcare.org.uk/avoid-pollution/yellow-fish" target="_blank">http://oilcare.org.uk/avoid-pollution/yellow-fish</a>) which focused on pollution prevention messages to the community, businesses and schools in the towns of Needham Market and Stowmarket in 2019/20.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/01/2023 10:58:04 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1189197

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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: Seasonal Workers
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 ensure that roles in seasonal agricultural work are advertised to people in the UK to limit the need to import foreign workers during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	38951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>The ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak have meant that there will be a shortfall in the numbers of workers who usually travel to the UK from Europe to work during the harvest season, with the demand for workers peaking from late May through the summer.</p><p>Farming leaders have already kick-started a recruitment drive for work on farms, with thousands of British people already expressing an interest in picking up seasonal agricultural work over the coming weeks and months. With many British workers furloughed from their jobs, and students having to put their summer plans on hold, the Government is supporting industry efforts to help farmers bring in this year’s harvest, working to build on these numbers.</p><p>The majority of roles for the early part of the harvest season have already been filled. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will shortly be launching a public- facing campaign to highlight the roles available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply. The Government has confirmed that those who have been furloughed from their jobs due to coronavirus, and who are contractually allowed to work for another employer, can take on this seasonal work.</p><p>A new Government-industry digital hub for seasonal work information and job opportunities has been launched to provide guidance on getting into farm work and links to the available jobs and recruiters. The website can be found at pickforbritain.org.uk and will be updated regularly over the coming weeks to help match jobs to workers as the demand grows.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 01/05/2020 13:50:57 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1172361

registered interest
date	21/01/2020
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	Food: Labelling
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 introduce legislative proposals to ban best before labels on food items.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Tom Hunt
uin	6187
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2020 answer text <p>The term ‘best before’ is used to indicate to consumers that the quality of the food may not be at its best after the date has expired. When used appropriately, and in line with the most recent guidance from the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), ‘best before’ helps ensure that consumers are able to make the best use of food and reduce waste.</p><p>The Government supports the valuable work done by WRAP in the UK to reduce food waste, which includes providing clear, thoroughly researched, sector-specific guidance on the application of ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates. WRAP’s recommendations are based on a large body of evidence and their work with food businesses, retailers and consumers.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 27/01/2020 14:51:23 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	4771 label Biography information for Tom Hunt

1151521

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Beverage Containers: Deposit Return 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, what estimate she has made of the potential annual (a) costs and (b) savings accruing to local authority finances of a deposit return scheme.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Sandy Martin
uin	3806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The introduction of a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) is expected to increase recycling and reduce littering of the drinks containers in-scope. The greenhouse gas emissions reduction associated with this is 2.9 metric tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub>e over the ten-year appraisal period. The Net Present Value of a DRS for drinks containers is estimated in the initial impact assessment to be more than £2 billion over the appraisal period for the ‘all-in’ option, and £250 million for the ‘on-the-go’ option. We will continue to refine our analysis of the costs and benefits as we receive more evidence and develop further policy options.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/10/2019 10:23:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4678 label Biography information for Sandy Martin

1151523

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Waste Disposal
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 she is taking to inform local authorities of changes to the financing of waste collection as a result of the policies in Our waste, our resources: a strategy for England published on 18 December 2018.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Sandy Martin
uin	3807
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/10/2019 answer text <p>Earlier this year, the Government published three consultations: ‘consistency in household and business recycling’, ‘reforming the UK packaging producer responsibility system’ and ‘introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers’. The consultations sought views on the policies in our Resources and Waste Strategy (RWS) including the financing of waste collections.</p><p> </p><p>During the consultation period, we held events for local authorities where we invited views on the proposals in the consultations. We have also made it clear to local authorities that the Government is committed to funding any additional net costs that the new policies will bring. We have also made local authorities aware that the reform of the packaging regulations will mean that they receive funding to pay for the collection of packaging materials for recycling.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Bill was introduced on 15 October <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2019-2020/0003/20003.pdf" target="_blank">https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2019-2020/0003/20003.pdf</a>. It contains the draft legislation relating to the policies in the RWS. We will continue to have regular discussions as we develop our final proposals which we will consult on in 2020.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/10/2019 13:04:08 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4678 label Biography information for Sandy Martin

1151525

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
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	Beverage Containers: Deposit Return 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, whether the impact assessment entitled, Introducing a deposit return scheme on beverage containers, included an assessment of the changes proposed to the waste regime which were included in the strategy entitled Our waste, our resources: a strategy for England published on 18 December 2018.
tabling member constituency	Ipswich
tabling member printed	Sandy Martin
uin	3808
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>We recognise that any potential deposit return scheme would need to work alongside the wider producer responsibility and recycling systems in operation in this country (including any potential changes to them). We have carefully considered the connections between these policy areas and chose to launch the three sets of consultations and impact assessments together to reflect this.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 31/10/2019 13:50:34 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4678 label Biography information for Sandy Martin