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1260492

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: Packaging
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 restrictions his Department will place on the use of PFAS chemicals to ensure the protection of the UK's health and environment after the transition period.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	128710
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>A number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are already banned or highly restricted. The UK is a Party to the Stockholm Convention, which has already agreed restrictions on the use of certain PFAS. There are also restrictions in place under the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of the transition period the UK will put in place its own domestic chemicals regulatory framework. Existing restrictions under REACH will be brought into UK law. Our commitments under the Stockholm Convention will continue to apply. <br> <br> Future UK decisions to control the environmental and human health impacts of substances will be taken under our independent regime and will be based on rigorous assessment of the scientific evidence, including looking at approaches taken by chemical regimes across the world. Ensuring the continued effective safe management of chemicals to protect human health and the environment and respond to emerging risks remains our priority.</p><p> </p><p>We are working to improve our understanding of the emissions and risks of PFAS in the UK, and how we manage these chemicals will be considered in our forthcoming Chemicals Strategy. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) also regularly reviews new PFAS and will be considering the upcoming review by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) of the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) latest scientific opinion on PFAS in food.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/12/2020 15:25:49 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1260512

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	River Tyne: Sewage
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 the level of sewage spills into the River Tyne.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	128676
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Specific to the Tyne and its tributaries, there are 35 ongoing investigations to identify the frequency of spills from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) and to deliver a cost beneficial solution to reduce this. Work is scheduled to complete by the end of 2030.</p><p> </p><p>Howdon Sewage Treatment Works, which handles all of Newcastle’s sewage, is being upgraded at a cost of £90 million to handle more sewage and accommodate growth in the area. These upgrades will increase the current storm tank sizes and reduce the amount of spills to the Tyne estuary.</p><p> </p><p>Northumbrian Water Group are also working with the Environment Agency (EA) and local authorities to produce a Drainage and Wastewater Management Plan due to be published by June 2023. This plan will manage the impact of growth and climate change on the wastewater infrastructure to prevent any future environmental impacts.</p><p> </p><p>Across England, the Government has established a new Storm Overflows Taskforce comprising Defra, the EA, Ofwat, CCW, Water UK and Blueprint for Water which is meeting regularly, with the aim of setting out clear proposals to reduce the frequency and volumes of sewage discharged into rivers and other waterways in extreme weather. The Taskforce is also exploring further short-term actions water companies can take to accelerate progress on storm overflows.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise more needs to be done which is why we continue to work closely with Ofwat and water companies to find ways to reduce the need for storm overflow discharges. In 2019, Ofwat introduced a package of allowances and incentives for the next five years, setting water companies the challenge of reducing pollution incidents by a third, also requiring them to invest £4.8 billion in environmental improvements.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/12/2020 15:34:32 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1260523

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	Property Flood Resilience Scheme
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 grants have been distributed under the Property Flood Resilience Scheme since November 2019.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	128726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Following the unprecedented flooding in November 2019 and the storms which followed in winter 2019/2020, government announced Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants of up to £5,000 in affected areas to help eligible homes, charities and businesses become more flood resilient.</p><p>The repair grants apply to those affected in district or unitary authorities that have 25 or more severely flooded properties.</p><p> </p><p>The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants are administered by eligible local authorities, with Defra reimbursing local authorities for grants paid for eligible properties. The most recent figures (held by Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government) show that over 47 district or unitary councils with over 7000 properties are eligible in England for the November 2019 and February 2020 PFR repair schemes.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In recognition of the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, both the 2019 and 2020 schemes have been extended by 9 months to give homeowners and businesses more time to carry out repairs and local authorities a greater period to process the grants.</p><p>Local authorities on the November scheme now have until 31 December 2021 to recover their costs whilst local authorities on the February scheme have until 1 July 2022.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128727 128728 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:22:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1260524

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	Property Flood Resilience Scheme
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 applications for grants under the Property Flood Resilience Scheme remain outstanding.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	128727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Following the unprecedented flooding in November 2019 and the storms which followed in winter 2019/2020, government announced Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants of up to £5,000 in affected areas to help eligible homes, charities and businesses become more flood resilient.</p><p>The repair grants apply to those affected in district or unitary authorities that have 25 or more severely flooded properties.</p><p> </p><p>The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants are administered by eligible local authorities, with Defra reimbursing local authorities for grants paid for eligible properties. The most recent figures (held by Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government) show that over 47 district or unitary councils with over 7000 properties are eligible in England for the November 2019 and February 2020 PFR repair schemes.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In recognition of the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, both the 2019 and 2020 schemes have been extended by 9 months to give homeowners and businesses more time to carry out repairs and local authorities a greater period to process the grants.</p><p>Local authorities on the November scheme now have until 31 December 2021 to recover their costs whilst local authorities on the February scheme have until 1 July 2022.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128726 128728 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:22:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1260525

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	Property Flood Resilience Scheme
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 has been allocated to the Property Flood Resilience Scheme.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	128728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>Following the unprecedented flooding in November 2019 and the storms which followed in winter 2019/2020, government announced Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants of up to £5,000 in affected areas to help eligible homes, charities and businesses become more flood resilient.</p><p>The repair grants apply to those affected in district or unitary authorities that have 25 or more severely flooded properties.</p><p> </p><p>The Property Flood Resilience (PFR) repair grants are administered by eligible local authorities, with Defra reimbursing local authorities for grants paid for eligible properties. The most recent figures (held by Ministry of Housing, Communities &amp; Local Government) show that over 47 district or unitary councils with over 7000 properties are eligible in England for the November 2019 and February 2020 PFR repair schemes.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In recognition of the challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, both the 2019 and 2020 schemes have been extended by 9 months to give homeowners and businesses more time to carry out repairs and local authorities a greater period to process the grants.</p><p>Local authorities on the November scheme now have until 31 December 2021 to recover their costs whilst local authorities on the February scheme have until 1 July 2022.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128726 128727 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:22:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1260593

registered interest
date	11/12/2020
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	Pet Travel Scheme: Cats
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 Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates were issued for cats entering the UK in each month from January 2019 to November 2020.
tabling member constituency	East Lothian
tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
uin	128739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>The number of Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates (ITAHCs) issued for cats entering the UK in each month from January 2019 to November 2020 can be found below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>ITAHCs</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-19</p></td><td><p>177</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-19</p></td><td><p>178</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-19</p></td><td><p>170</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-19</p></td><td><p>136</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-19</p></td><td><p>115</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-19</p></td><td><p>112</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-19</p></td><td><p>124</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-19</p></td><td><p>137</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-19</p></td><td><p>201</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-19</p></td><td><p>282</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-19</p></td><td><p>178</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-19</p></td><td><p>143</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-20</p></td><td><p>203</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-20</p></td><td><p>144</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-20</p></td><td><p>70</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-20</p></td><td><p>43</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-20</p></td><td><p>101</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-20</p></td><td><p>142</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-20</p></td><td><p>214</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-20</p></td><td><p>301</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-20</p></td><td><p>356</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-20</p></td><td><p>486</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-20</p></td><td><p>506</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The data for ITAHCs for cat imports was extracted from TRACES through the data warehouse facility by searching for imports of Felis catus. These figures cover all commercially imported cats including commercial kittens, rescue cats and unaccompanied pets.</p><p> </p><p>The information that we have provided is a true reflection of the information that we have access to. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this data, as we can only rely on the information that has been input into TRACES by a third party.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/12/2020 14:16:57 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1260140

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Odour Pollution: Lancashire
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 (a) mental and (b) physical health effects on communities residing near a landfill site of (i) the Environment Agency's report on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale reference AAM/TR/2019/12 and (ii) other breaches of World Health Organization’s odour guidelines.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	128309
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.</p><p> </p><p>The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128310 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:26:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1260141

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Odour Pollution: Lancashire
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 (a) social and (b) economic effects of (i) the Environment Agency's report on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale reference AAM/TR/2019/12 and (ii) other breaches of World Health Organization’s odour guidelines on communities residing near a landfill site.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
uin	128310
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/12/2020 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the Environment Agency’s report (AAM/TR/2019/12) on Ambient Air Quality at Silverdale. However, the results of the monitoring that informed this report were shared with Public Health England who confirmed that the levels recorded were low and that no long-term health consequences were expected. Public Health England has no evidence of an increase in general practice (GP) consultations or calls to NHS 111 by the neighbouring population for symptoms of breathing difficulties or eye problems, and similarly for GP in-hours consultations for asthma and wheeze. If residents have health concerns, they are advised to consult their local GP. Public Health England continues to support the Environment Agency and local stakeholders with community engagement. Public Health England maintain that living close to a well-managed landfill site does not pose a significant risk to human health.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency regulates waste disposal sites and monitors compliance with environmental permits, and we have made legislative changes to improve Environment Agency powers to tackle problem waste sites. As of November 2018, waste management facilities must have a written management system, designed to reduce impacts on local communities and the environment, and our Resources and Waste strategy committed to further strengthening technical competence requirements for site operators.</p><p> </p><p>The environmental permitting system for waste sites ensures that the Environment Agency is able to regulate against conditions in permits which aim to protect the environment and human health. The Environment Agency will continue to work with the operator and other local partners to continue to monitor the situation and take action wherever necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Where issues, including odour, could be a statutory nuisance under Section 79(1)(d) the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local councils are responsible for investigating these complaints.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 128309 question first answered 16/12/2020 15:26:03 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1260143

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	Furs: 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 recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning the import of animal fur into the UK.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	128321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and, after the transition period, the Government plans to retain current regulations banning the import of fur from domestic cats and dogs, and has laid secondary legislation to retain the ban on commercial seal hunts. Legislation has prohibited farming of animals for their fur since 2000 in England and Wales, and 2002 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>Once the UK assumes an independent seat on international bodies such as CITES and OIE we will have an opportunity to promote our high standards in these international fora.</p><p> </p><p>Once our future relationship with the EU has been established there will be an opportunity for the Government to consider further the steps it could take in relation to fur imports.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/12/2020 15:32:02 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones

1260144

registered interest
date	10/12/2020
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	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, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2020 to Question 124350 on Pest Control: Animal Welfare, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on animal welfare and animal-related measures.
tabling member constituency	Pontypridd
tabling member printed	Alex Davies-Jones
uin	128322
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2020 answer text <p>On 3 December, the Government launched an eight-week consultation on the ban of live animal exports for fattening or slaughter. The Government is also consulting on proposals to further improve animal welfare in transport more generally, such as reduced maximum journey times, animals being given more space and headroom during transport, stricter rules on transporting animals in extreme temperatures and tighter rules for transporting live animals by sea.</p><p>On 12 December, the Government launched proposals to ban keeping primates as pets in England, inviting the public to have their say on the issue over the next eight weeks. Findings from a recent call for evidence found that these animals' complex needs cannot be met in a home environment. Under these new plans, it will be an offence to keep a primate as a pet in England. Only those keeping primates to zoo level standards will be permitted to keep primates.</p><p>The Government is in the process of refining proposals for the manifesto commitments on the introduction of laws on animal sentience, a ban on the import of hunting trophies and tackling puppy smuggling, and will be publishing further detail in the coming weeks. We are still considering the best legislative vehicle to bring forward these reforms in the near future. We will be engaging with stakeholders and other Government departments as necessary.</p><p>Our manifesto commitment to introduce mandatory cat microchipping will be brought forward via secondary legislation in the coming months. The Government continues to support the passage of the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill in Parliament to deliver our manifesto commitment to increase the maximum available penalty for the worst animal cruelty offences from six months to five years.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 15/12/2020 15:26:36 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4849 label Biography information for Alex Davies-Jones