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1332241

registered interest
date	11/06/2021
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	Transport: Air Pollution and Biodiversity
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 had discussions with the Prime Minister on the impact of private modes of transport including private jets on (a) air pollution and (b) biodiversity before the G7 meeting in Cornwall.
tabling member constituency	Swansea West
tabling member printed	Geraint Davies
uin	14131
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p>The Government considered this issue and took steps to ensure a sustainable event. We appointed engineering, design and consultancy firm Arup, to help the event achieve ISO 20121 sustainability certification and to deliver a carbon-neutral event by developing a Carbon Management Plan. This included offsetting for G7 and guest leader and staff travel.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to improving the environmental sustainability of its own estates and operations through the Greening Government Commitments (GGCs). As part of these, central Government departments are currently required to report on and reduce the number of domestic flights they take. The latest annual report showed the Government as a whole had reduced the number of domestic flights it took by 28% in 2018-19 compared with the 2009-10 baseline. The Government Fleet Commitment also commits central Government departments to have 25% of their fleet as ultra-low emissions vehicles by 2022 and 100% by 2030. Progress against the fleet commitment will be reported on for the first time in the forthcoming 2019-20 GGC annual report.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/06/2021 12:41:29 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	155 label Biography information for Geraint Davies

1332255

registered interest
date	11/06/2021
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	Chemicals: Health and Wildlife
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 recent assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals on (a) human health and (b) wildlife.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	14142
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2021 answer text <p>Through involvement in Horizon 2020 projects, European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) and the Partnership for Chemicals Risk Assessment (PARC), we are engaging in efforts to better understand human exposure to different chemicals and possible linked health effects. This includes EDCs, with phthalates and bisphenol included as priority substances in the first round of the HBM4EU project.</p><p> </p><p>Work is also being carried out by the Environment Agency to understand the presence, use, emissions and sources of several chemicals groups containing recognised EDCs such as phthlates in the UK environment. This will be used to prioritise further assessment, which would include potential effect on wildlife. Last October the Environment Agency published a study of oestrogenic effects in wild fish (roach) in English rivers comparing contemporary and historical impacts.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/06/2021 16:48:22 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1332256

registered interest
date	11/06/2021
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	Chemicals: Health Hazards
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 hazard-based prevention measures for reducing exposures to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	14143
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2021 answer text <p>The identification of intrinsic chemical hazards is already a principal requirement of the classification, labelling and packaging regulation (CLP). The hazard classes in CLP classify physical, health and environmental hazards. Endocrine disrupting properties are not captured by a specific CLP hazard class, however human health endocrine disrupting properties are closely linked to existing CMR (carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction) hazard classes.</p><p> </p><p>The hazard classification of a chemical is often used as a starting point for specific controls or protective measures and is the basis for many regulatory and legislative provisions in the risk management of chemicals. Endocrine disrupting properties are specifically taken into account by the regulatory regimes covering the use of pesticides and biocides, where identification of such properties prompts specific control measures.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/06/2021 16:45:41 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1332268

registered interest
date	11/06/2021
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: Artificial Intelligence
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 they have made of the potential (a) threats and (b) opportunities of artificial intelligence in respect of their Department’s responsibilities.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	14194
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>Defra maintains a high-level, persistent watch on emerging technologies via our Digital, Data and Technology Services innovations team’s emerging technologies radar and the Chief Scientific Adviser’s Office Futures team. As such, Defra both recognises the potential for artificial intelligence to play an important part in ensuring that data and science are at the heart of decision making, and is also aware of the general threats and opportunities afforded by AI.</p><p> </p><p>The opportunities and considerations associated with the use of AI continue to be explored, as outlined in the guidance on building and using artificial intelligence in the public sector, published on gov.uk at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/a-guide-to-using-artificial-intelligence-in-the-public-sector" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/a-guide-to-using-artificial-intelligence-in-the-public-sector</a></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/06/2021 16:31:40 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1332313

registered interest
date	11/06/2021
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	Climate Change and Ecology
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, on what date the Government declared a climate and ecological emergency.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	14214
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>The House of Commons voted for a motion on 1 May 2019 to declare an environment and climate emergency.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/06/2021 15:32:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1331827

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
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	Sheep: Imports
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 for the future long-term sustainability of the British sheep industry of amending the sanitary conditions relating to the importation of live sheep and ram semen from Australia and New Zealand to enable imports from animals bearing the scrapie genotype group 2, specifically scrapie genotypes ARR/ARQ, ARR/ARH or ARR/AHQ.
tabling member constituency	Ynys Môn
tabling member printed	Virginia Crosbie
uin	14086
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2021 answer text <p>There have been no changes in our import conditions for scrapie, Annex IX chapter H of regulation (EC) No. 999.2001 details the requirements for import of ovine and caprine semen, oocytes and embryos, which was adopted into UK law. These germinal products of non-ARR/ARR prion protein genotypes may be imported provided they meet the other scrapie requirements set out in the legislation and corresponding import health certificate.</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fovine-and-caprine-germinal-products-health-certificates&amp;data=04%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C0a022fc7065749f1c49d08d92fe3c8a5%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C1%7C0%7C637593477642391047%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=VmY8667GSoaklQHo1r4YkOxCaG9r4mg1oMoN%2BbRA8iY%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Ovine and caprine germinal products: health certificates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p>The UK maintains its own sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) imports regime to protect public, animal and plant life and health and the environment. We have repatriated the functions of audit and inspections to ensure that trading partners, including those we secure trade deals with, continue to meet our import conditions. This provides a standing, robust system that works alongside border controls to maintain our high standards going forward.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/06/2021 16:42:51 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4859 label Biography information for Virginia Crosbie

1331840

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
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 Conditioning and Heating: Trifluoroacetic Acid
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 his Department is taking to tackle the risk to groundwater and drinking water from trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and trifluoroacetate resulting from refrigerants used in air-conditioning and in heat pumps.
tabling member constituency	Wycombe
tabling member printed	Mr Steve Baker
uin	13936
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p>Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is one of a group of thousands of substances collectively called poly- and per-fluorinated substances (PFAS), which are highly persistent in the environment. As a group they are being considered under a risk management options analysis under UK chemical regulation (UK REACH). The Environment Agency (EA) also considers TFA as part of its priority and early warning system for chemicals.</p><p>We are aware of some concerns raised about TFA and trifluoroacetate in relation to the breakdown of certain refrigerants, in particular hydrofluoro-olefins (HFOs). HFOs are used increasingly as replacements for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) due to their much lower Global Warming Potential.</p><p>HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases and their use is being phased down. Defra is reviewing the legislation covering HFCs to ascertain whether we can go further in support of the UK's net zero target. This will include assessing the adequacy of existing leak prevention, detection and repair measures, as well as the possibility of reducing further the use of HFCs.</p><p>The 2018 UN Montreal Protocol Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) report concluded there was minimal risk to human health or the environment from TFA from HFOs used as refrigerants. However, we continue to monitor the latest scientific assessments and will take on board their conclusions, including as part of our review.</p><p>Activities with the potential to impact upon the quality of groundwater are regulated through the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (EPR). The EPR provide for ongoing supervision and control by the EA to ensure that groundwater activities are only permitted to operate where the risks to groundwater are well understood and mitigated. The EA does not currently monitor TFA in groundwater.</p><p> </p><p>Refrigerants used in ground source heat pumps are designed and installed to be contained within closed loop systems having no connection to the surrounding environment. Should any evidence show that systems have leaked, the EA has powers to serve notices requiring remediation of any impacted groundwater, surface water or soils.</p><p> </p><p>Drinking water quality is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.</p><p> </p><p>The Drinking Water Regulations require that, in order to be considered “wholesome”, drinking water must not contain any substance at a level which would constitute a potential danger to human health.</p><p> </p><p>The topic of PFAS substances is not new. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has provided guidance to water companies since 2009 and this has recently been updated to reflect current knowledge. The guidance requires water companies to ensure these chemicals are adequately considered in their risk assessments. Should the EA find evidence to suggest that the closed loop systems have leaked, it will inform relevant water companies of any potential risk, and the water companies will consider initiating monitoring for the chemicals at any of their works where appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/06/2021 12:31:44 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4064 label Biography information for Mr Steve Baker

1331856

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
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: Artificial Intelligence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to what extent their Department makes use of artificial intelligence in the implementation of its policies; and how much was spent from their Department’s budget on artificial intelligence in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	14043
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2021 answer text <p>Defra recognises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to play an important part in ensuring that data and science are at the heart of decision making.</p><p> </p><p>Defra recognises the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to play an important part in ensuring that data and science are at the heart of decision making.</p><p> </p><p>All of Defra’s ongoing and previous research projects, including a number involving AI and machine learning (ML), are published on Defra’s research and development website: <a href="http://randd.defra.gov.uk" target="_blank">randd.defra.gov.uk</a>. Planned projects are advertised on Bravo: <a href="https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk" target="_blank">defra.bravosolution.co.uk</a>. The specific information requested is not held centrally and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Areas particularly benefitting from these tools include the interpretation of Earth Observation and automated sensor data, the development of advanced modelling techniques, and improved customer service. We are further developing our data science capabilities (data linkage, advanced tooling and platforms) to ensure our scientists and analysts are able to effectively exploit data using advanced analytic techniques which include AI components, such as ML and other novel innovative approaches that will inform decision making.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to work in partnership across Government, with academia and industry to develop the use of AI and ML for Defra.</p><p> </p><p>The opportunities and considerations associated with the use of AI continue to be explored, as outlined in the guidance on building and using artificial intelligence in the public sector, published on gov.uk at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/a-guide-to-using-artificial-intelligence-in-the-public-sector" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/a-guide-to-using-artificial-intelligence-in-the-public-sector</a></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 21/06/2021 09:31:41 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1331882

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
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: Animal Welfare
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 his Department has spent preventing and tackling UK cetacean strandings in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	St Austell and Newquay
tabling member printed	Steve Double
uin	13992
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p>Since 2015, we have spent over £3.7 million on work to better understand and mitigate threats to cetaceans to help to reduce the likelihood of strandings taking place.</p><p> </p><p>Over £1.4 million of which is funding for the Cetacean Stranding Investigation Programme, which aims to improve our understanding of, and ability to tackle, key threats to cetaceans. This programme coordinates the response to cetacean strandings in the UK and, where it has not been possible to return the animal to the sea, it provides an assessment to determine the cause of death. We have recently let a 10-year contract to continue this important work.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/06/2021 12:18:53 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4452 label Biography information for Steve Double

1331883

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
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: Animal Welfare
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 prevalence of collisions between cetaceans and vessels, referred to as ship strikes, in UK waters or involving UK ships in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	St Austell and Newquay
tabling member printed	Steve Double
uin	13993
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p>We recently let a 10-year contract for the continuation of our widely respected UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme. This scheme investigates the causes of death of stranded cetaceans around the UK coast, improving our understanding of, and ability to tackle, key threats like ship strikes. Between 2016 and 2020, the CSIP team examined 663 cetaceans and found only 11 showed evidence of ship strikes. While ship strikes are a serious threat to cetaceans globally, there is low prevalence of incidents occurring within UK waters.</p><p>We work through the Conservation and Scientific Committees of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to understand and reduce the threat posed by ship strikes. The IWC is also collaborating with other relevant organisations at both regional and inter-governmental levels to share information and expertise. We recently contributed £20k to the IWC to support efforts to better understand and mitigate ship strikes.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 18/06/2021 12:29:06 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4452 label Biography information for Steve Double