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1667486

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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	Marine Management Organisation: Conditions of Employment
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 Civil Service employees from core departments retained continuity of employment for contractual purposes when they transferred from working for their previous department to work for the Marine Management Organisation in 2009.
tabling member constituency	Brent North
tabling member printed	Barry Gardiner
uin	14
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>Continuous statutory service would be transferred as per the protocols. However, Defra does not keep information on staff who have transferred under Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment)/ Cabinet Office Statement of Practice. All data becomes owned by the organisation that the work moves to, as the staff are theirs as if they had always been their staff.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2023 16:30:09 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	146 label Biography information for Barry Gardiner

1667487

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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	Marine Management Organisation: Secondment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under which staff-transfer protocol employees of core civil service Departments were transferred to the Marine Management Organisation in 2009; and whether this protocol has been applied to other employee transfers.
tabling member constituency	Brent North
tabling member printed	Barry Gardiner
uin	15
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>Defra follows the correct protocols for each staff transfer as set out in the <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fmedia%2F5a79b86540f0b642860da3ad%2Fstaff_transfers_145.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ccorporatepqs%40defra.gov.uk%7C94e59467e6664a5c5d5e08dbe438458a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638354702561563039%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=nVb4Q%2BuJCFNnPSi2Ho5zRDl%2F782qvKprTRkkf%2BoiwmQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Statement of Practice</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2023 16:26:36 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	146 label Biography information for Barry Gardiner

1667497

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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 Supply: New Forest
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 (a) take steps with stakeholders to understand the (i) circumstances which led to Southern Water cutting off water supplies to households in the Waterside area of New Forest East constituency during the evening of Thursday 2 November 2023, (ii) reasons for which the water supply was not resumed until the morning of Sunday 5 November and (iii) reasons for the lack of advance warning to customers, (b) make an assessment of the adequacy of support given by Southern Water to vulnerable customers whose water had been cut off and (c) make it her policy to require water companies to increase their resilience levels to ensure they can deliver water to customers during periods of similarly heavy rainfall in the future.
tabling member constituency	New Forest East
tabling member printed	Sir Julian Lewis
uin	1
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2023 answer text <p>On 2 November, the effects of Storm Ciaran were seen at Testwood Water Treatment Works in Hampshire. The heavy rainfall and consequent flooding impacted water quality, which meant that it was not possible for the Treatment Works to effectively treat the volume of water needed to maintain supplies. This included to properties in the Waterside area of the New Forest. Southern Water attempted to minimise the impact but as soon as it become apparent that supply would be affected, notifications were provided to customers, through their website and social media.</p><p>Once flooding reduced, Southern Water increased supplies slowly to safeguard safety and drinking water quality standards. Customers had water supply restored gradually over the course of Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 November. Arrangements were put in place to support those customers off supply, including the opening of three bottled water stations, and regular deliveries to vulnerable customers.</p><p>Throughout the water supply outage, my officials engaged closely with Southern Water to ensure steps were taken to resolve the incident as soon as possible. I was regularly briefed on the emerging situation and ensured that Southern Water was supporting customers in the impacted area, particularly those who are vulnerable.</p><p>And on 8 November, I met with Lawrence Gosden, CEO Southern Water, to consider what lessons could be learned from this water supply incident and the actions Southern Water are taking avoid future interruptions at Testwood Water Treatment Works. The company is also providing a detailed report to the Drinking Water Inspectorate, who will carry out a full assessment on the event.</p><p>Ensuring a plentiful supply of water is a government priority with our Plan for Water, published in April 2023, setting out how we will enhance water supply infrastructure and improve resilience to drought as well as managing water demand. Earlier this year, regional water resources groups and water companies, including Southern Water, consulted on their draft Water Resource Management Plans. Within their plans, water companies must consider all options, including demand management and water resources infrastructure for at least the next 25 years.</p><p>Water companies are also using the £469 million made available by Ofwat in the current Price Review period (2020-2025) to investigate strategic water resources options, that are required to improve the resilience of England’s water supplies. Ofwat also recently announced that water companies are bringing forward £2.2 billion for new water infrastructure delivery, over the next two years, with £350 million worth of investment in water resilience schemes.</p><p>Where a company does not meet their performance expectations, Ofwat, the independent water regulator, will take decisive regulatory action. For example, due to underperformance in 2022-23 across several areas, including on supply interruptions and customer satisfaction, draft decisions by Ofwat will mean Southern will return over £42 million to its customers in the 2024-25 financial year.</p><p>Government and regulators will continue to closely monitor Southern Water’s Performance and will not hesitate to hold them to account if they fall short.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 13/11/2023 14:23:59 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	54 label Biography information for Sir Julian Lewis

1667522

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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: 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, if he will introduce legislation to require water companies to report annually on the number of animals killed as a result of raw sewage discharges.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	221
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/11/2023 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>We do not have plans to introduce legislation that will require this of water companies. However, this Government is clear that the volume of sewage being discharged into our waters is unacceptable. That is why our Plan for Water sets out more investment, stronger regulation and tougher enforcement to tackle pollution and clean up our water.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan sets clear and specific targets for water companies, regulators and the Government, to work towards the long-term ambition of eliminating ecological harm from storm overflows. This will protect biodiversity at both a local and national scale.</p><p> </p><p>We have also set a world-leading, legally binding target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. This target will drive wide-ranging actions to deliver nature recovery.</p><p> </p><p>We know that to meet our targets we will need large-scale habitat restoration, creation and improved connectivity; to tackle pressures on species including pollution, unsustainable use of resources and climate change; and targeted action to recover specific species.</p><p> </p><p>Action to restore or create freshwater habitats will support species in our indicator that live in and rely on lakes and rivers such as kingfishers, silver bream, perch, and minnow.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 13/11/2023 15:38:12 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1667533

registered interest
date	07/11/2023
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	Animal Welfare: 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, with reference to the Summary of Responses to the Call for Evidence on Labelling for Animal Welfare, published by her Department in August 2022, whether she plans to take steps to bring forward legislative proposals to introduce labelling for animal welfare.
tabling member constituency	Stockton South
tabling member printed	Matt Vickers
uin	605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/11/2023 answer text <p>Defra’s Call for Evidence on Labelling for Animal Welfare gathered data on the impacts of different types of labelling reforms. Based on the information gathered, we will continue to work with stakeholders to explore how we can harness the market to improve food information for consumers. We will continue to gather evidence on the impacts of a wide range of market interventions, as well as how they could align with wider labelling proposals such as eco-labelling.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 14/11/2023 10:58:43 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4844 label Biography information for Matt Vickers

1666836

registered interest
date	24/10/2023
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	Processed Food: Consumption
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 is taking steps to help reduce the number of ultra-processed foods that are consumed by the public.
tabling member constituency	Stockton South
tabling member printed	Matt Vickers
uin	204056
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 26/10/2023 11:12:26 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4844 label Biography information for Matt Vickers

1666854

registered interest
date	24/10/2023
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	Flood Control
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 prepare communities for future flooding events.
tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
uin	204059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/10/2023 11:13:20 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1666855

registered interest
date	24/10/2023
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	Flood Control: Finance
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 much funding her Department has provided to help protect communities at risk of flooding in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
uin	204060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/10/2023 11:14:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1666856

registered interest
date	24/10/2023
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	Floods: Victims
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 she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to help support victims of flooding (a) by remedying flood damage and (b) with their mental health.
tabling member constituency	Penrith and The Border
tabling member printed	Dr Neil Hudson
uin	204061
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/10/2023 11:15:04 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4853 label Biography information for Dr Neil Hudson

1666883

registered interest
date	24/10/2023
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	Flood Control: Finance
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 (a) carried out a recent review of the allocation of Flood Defence Grant in Aid funding which will be available for flood risk schemes and (b) made an assessment of the effectiveness of that funding.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	204031
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2023 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/10/2023 11:10:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders