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1688959

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Sewage: Pollution
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 made an estimate of the number of homes affected by sewage rising into (a) gardens, (b) toilets and (c) sinks after heavy rains.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	13955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/03/2024 answer text <p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.discoverwater.co.uk%2Fsewer-flooding&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Cf184ed16f6e247d5667108dc390d732d%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638447977156826645%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=7HSMe6iajfowcrcr4OI%2Foc37GLZ4HX77iB8u4g9jhFM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Discover Water</a>, a water company performance data website which brings robust already-available company data from a range of sources together includes detail on sewer flooding incidents. In 2022-23; 47,176 areas of private land or gardens were flooded by sewage and 4,794 properties were internally flooded by sewage.</p><p> </p><p>Sewer flooding may occur for a number of reasons, including a failure of the sewerage system; blockages; or when the sewerage system is overwhelmed when too much rainwater enters the sewers from surrounding roads, houses and land. Storm overflows stop sewage backing up into homes by releasing wastewater when the system is overwhelmed during periods of heavy rain. A growing population and ageing infrastructure, means these storm overflows are being pushed beyond their intended limits and that needs to change. As part of our Plan for Water, water companies are delivering the largest infrastructure programme in history - £60 billion of investment over 25 years. We continue to hold water companies to account and will not hesitate to act where there is evidence of wrongdoing.</p><p> </p><p>Government recognises the importance of having a robust drainage system both now and for future demand. As per commitments in the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Plan for Water, Defra will legislate to require water companies in England to produce Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans (DWMPs). DWMPs set out how a water company intends to improve their drainage and wastewater systems over the next 25 years, accounting for factors including growing population and changing environmental circumstances. When producing DWMPs, water companies will be required to identify solutions in collaboration with other partners such as lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) and other flood risk management authorities.</p><p> </p><p>Flooding from heavy rain and thunderstorms is known as surface water flooding. In England 3.4 million properties are at risk of such flooding. The responsibility for managing local flood risk, including from surface water, falls to LLFAs, in partnership with highways authorities and water companies. LLFAs are required to identify and agree local objectives for managing these local flood risks and to set them out in their statutory Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 08/03/2024 13:30:26 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1688973

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Electronic Cigarettes: Smuggling
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 the proposal to ban disposable vapes on the illicit vape market.
tabling member constituency	Calder Valley
tabling member printed	Craig Whittaker
uin	13992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2024 answer text <p>On 29 January, a ban on the supply and sale of disposable vapes was announced as part of the Government’s response to its consultation on smoking and vaping that was launched in October last year. A ban on the supply and sale of these throwaway items will help to protect our environment, as well as future generations, from the harmful effects of disposable vapes. We will be working with the appropriate bodies to ensure that the ban, when introduced, is enforceable to minimise illicit vapes entering the market.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 01/03/2024 10:19:19 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	3940 label Biography information for Craig Whittaker

1688982

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Cetaceans: Import Controls
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 plans to introduce a ban on the (a) display and (b) importation of (i) dolphins, (ii) whales, (iii) porpoises and (iv) other cetaceans.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	13998
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government considers cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) to be highly intelligent, social animals, with complex needs that are unlikely to be met when removed from their natural marine habitat and kept in captivity.</p><p> </p><p>The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006 require high standards for the welfare of kept animals. We consider these protections sufficient to ensure cetaceans are not displayed or otherwise kept in captivity in this country.</p><p> </p><p>We are not aware of any cetaceans being kept in captivity or being displayed but if there was any indication that cetaceans were to be displayed or kept in captivity here again then we would of course consider further actions.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/02/2024 17:34:28 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1688996

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Nitrogen Dioxide: 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 is taking to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in London boroughs where levels have exceeded legal limits.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	13862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in London and has devolved powers under the Environment Act 1995 allowing him to require London boroughs to take action to address local air pollution. It is the Mayor’s responsibility to put the necessary measures in place to bring London into compliance with legal limits for NO<sub>2</sub> as soon as possible. The Mayor has received over £6.6bn of funding for transport in London since 2020, and London authorities have received further funding for specific air quality projects totalling almost £102m.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 22/02/2024 16:41:25 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

1688997

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Air Pollution: Ethnic Groups and Poverty
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 make it his policy to reduce the impact of air pollution on (a) Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities and (b) people living in poverty.
tabling member constituency	Hackney North and Stoke Newington
tabling member printed	Ms Diane Abbott
uin	13863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises there is more to do to protect all people in our society and the environment from the effects of air pollution. This is why we are taking the significant and wide-ranging action to drive improvements to air quality as set out in our Environmental Improvement Plan 2023.</p><p> </p><p>This action is supported by the Environment Act 2021, which makes sure that local authorities have the necessary powers to tackle emissions collaboratively in their local area to improve air quality. Through the Act we also introduced two new targets for fine particulate matter, the pollutant most damaging to human health, setting a maximum annual mean concentration target and a population exposure reduction target. This dual-target approach will improve public health for all by tackling the highest concentrations whilst ensuring all areas benefit from continuous improvement.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to support local authorities in England to take action in their communities through the Local Air Quality Grant, which has awarded around £53 million to almost 500 projects since 2010.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 22/02/2024 16:39:39 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	172 label Biography information for Ms Diane Abbott

1689030

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Environment Agency: Legal Opinion
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 staff were in the Environment Agency's legal services team in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	13956
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2024 answer text <p>The data in relation to Environment Agency Legal Services full-time equivalent numbers is detailed below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Legal Services</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-15</p></td><td><p>137.1</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-16</p></td><td><p>144.6</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-17</p></td><td><p>136.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-18</p></td><td><p>137.8</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-19</p></td><td><p>141.5</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-20</p></td><td><p>146.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-21</p></td><td><p>142.7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-22</p></td><td><p>137.2</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-23</p></td><td><p>145.4</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-24</p></td><td><p>148.4</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 26/02/2024 15:29:36 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1689031

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Environment Agency: Termination 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, how many Environment Agency staff have left that organisation in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Westmorland and Lonsdale
tabling member printed	Tim Farron
uin	13957
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2024 answer text <p>The number of Environment Agency staff who left and joined the organisation in each financial year since 2016/17 is detailed below. We are unable to provide data from 2014/15 or 2015/16 as this information is not readily available.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>(April 2016 - March 2017)</p></td><td><p>(April 2017 - March 2018)</p></td><td><p>(April 2018 - March 2019)</p></td><td><p>(April 2019 - March 2020)</p></td><td><p>(April 2020 - March 2021)</p></td><td><p>(April 2021 - March 2022)</p></td><td><p>(April 2022 - March 2023)</p></td><td><p>(April 2023 - Jan 2024)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of EA staff who <strong>left</strong> the organisation within a financial year</p></td><td><p>999</p></td><td><p>1988</p></td><td><p>836</p></td><td><p>966</p></td><td><p>754</p></td><td><p>1149</p></td><td><p>1315</p></td><td><p>829</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of EA staff who <strong>joined</strong> the organisation within a financial year</p></td><td><p>977</p></td><td><p>912</p></td><td><p>888</p></td><td><p>1008</p></td><td><p>364</p></td><td><p>890</p></td><td><p>2297</p></td><td><p>1640</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 21/03/2024 14:28:18 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	1591 label Biography information for Tim Farron

1689094

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Information Officers
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 posts there are for (a) press, (b) media and (c) other communications staff in his Department; and what the salary band is for each post.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	14023
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>Defra Group Communications is the first single employer shared service communications team in Whitehall, working for six organisations.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside the core department, the team provides communications support for the core Department and five of its largest Arm’s Length Bodies including the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Animal and Plant Health Agency, the Forestry Commission and the Rural Payments Agency. The teams work across all communications disciplines in support of the policy and operational priorities within each of these organisations. This includes media, planning, stakeholder engagement, digital communications and internal communications across the six parts of the Defra group. This integrated function reduces duplication, improves performance and saves money.</p><p> </p><p>As Defra Group Communications staff work in an agile way in multiple organisations, it is not possible to provide granular full-time equivalent figures for each part of the group, including the core department.</p><p> </p><p>As announced by the Government last year, departments are submitting productivity plans to modernise the Civil Service and reduce the size of the state to pre-pandemic levels. These roles, as all other business units in the department, are considered as part of these plans.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 27/02/2024 13:38:26 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1689098

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Animal Welfare: Import Controls
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 bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that the UK requires imports of (a) meat, (b) milk, (c) eggs and (d) fish to meet UK animal welfare standards.
tabling member constituency	Crawley
tabling member printed	Henry Smith
uin	13999
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>The Government is proud of the high food standards that underpin our high-quality Great British produce. We will never compromise on these.</p><p> </p><p>All agri-food products, including those from countries we have trade agreements with, must comply with our import requirements in order to be placed on the UK market. This includes ensuring imported meat products have been slaughtered to animal welfare standards equivalent to our domestic standards.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will use our expertise and influence to drive enhanced animal welfare and food safety standards globally.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 27/02/2024 13:33:40 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	3960 label Biography information for Henry Smith

1689100

registered interest
date	16/02/2024
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	Cats: Sales
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 licensed cat sellers there are in England.
tabling member constituency	Harrow East
tabling member printed	Bob Blackman
uin	14006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/02/2024 answer text <p>Under the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (“the 2018 Regulations”), anyone selling animals as pets in the course of a business, including kittens and cats, needs to hold a valid license issued by their local authority. Information provided by local authorities indicates that 2169 licenses to sell animals as pets were in force in England on 1 April 2023. The data can be found here: <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fckan.publishing.service.gov.uk%2Fdataset%2Flocal-authority-licensing-of-activities-involving-animals-returns&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C76cb6c154b7d48a41e3d08dc320b6ecc%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638440271902722886%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=kdMkmaQOFCy8uBO7P0CwKNq8%2BXZ9cuJ%2BPv%2BgOjW%2BChI%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Local Authority Licensing of Activities involving Animals returns - Dataset - data.gov.uk (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a>.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 23/02/2024 14:11:29 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4005 label Biography information for Bob Blackman