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1712645

registered interest
date	22/04/2024
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	Import Controls
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Douglas-Miller on 12 March (HL2920), whether they will forecast the impact of different charges at different border control posts on traffic volumes, queues and emissions once the commercial ports have set their own fees.
tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
uin	HL4006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>It is up to individual commercial ports to determine their own charging structure and rates. This will allow ports to ensure costs cover their expenses while remaining viable for both industry and businesses.</p><p> </p><p>Border Control Posts are designed to handle high volumes of imported sanitary and phytosanitary goods and offer extended opening hours with staff working shifts on site to carry out reliable checks which minimise friction on traffic flow.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has worked with port and airport operators, traders, Port Health Authorities and the Animal and Plant Health Agency to make sure we have the right infrastructure, systems and resources in place.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 13/05/2024 11:24:53 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1712647

registered interest
date	22/04/2024
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	Lake Windermere: Pollution
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the environmental impact of pollution in Lake Windermere.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL4008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>A thorough investigation by the Environment Agency (EA) into the pollution incident at Lake Windermere earlier this year remains ongoing, which involves examining further evidence from United Utilities (UU). If the EA determines a permit breach has taken place, it will not hesitate to take enforcement action up to and including a criminal prosecution.</p><p> </p><p>Windermere is affected by pollution from a range of different sources, including sewage discharges from water company assets, private septic tanks/sewage works and road and agricultural run-off, as well as physical modifications. Climate change has also altered temperature, precipitation and weather patterns which can affect the lake's water quality, by altering nutrient cycles, water chemistry and aquatic habitats, and affect the amount of water resulting in droughts and floods.</p><p> </p><p>The last Water Framework Directive full water body classification results in 2019 assessed that Lake Windermere achieved moderate ecologic status and is impacted by excessive nutrients, leading to algal growth and cyanobacterial blooms.</p><p> </p><p>Recent data shows a 30% reduction in phosphorus – which can lead to algal blooms – entering the lake since 2020 and this reduction is predominantly due to EA-driven improvements to UU Wastewater Treatment Works.</p><p> </p><p>Water quality modelling continues to quantify the different sources of pollution in Windermere and the impact that it is having in different parts of the lake. The EA is also working with the Love Windermere partnership to improve the overall health of the lake through behavioural and societal change.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 24/05/2024 09:12:55 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1712731

registered interest
date	22/04/2024
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	Pollution: Slough
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 take steps to enhance the monitoring of industrial pollution from (a) the new power station, (b) the Grundon energy from waste plant in Colnbrook and (c) other sites in Slough.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	23009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>Industrial activities in England are regulated under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016. All large industrial facilities, such as large combustion plants and energy from waste, are regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) and must comply with environmental permits, use best available techniques (BAT) to reduce emissions to air, water and land, and monitor and report their emissions. The BAT approach ensures standards are enhanced over time by defining the available techniques which are the best for preventing or minimising emissions and impacts on the environment.</p><p> </p><p>The EA inspects and audits industrial installations to ensure they are complying with the requirements of their permits. For example, energy from waste sites have continuous air emissions monitoring for key pollutants which all plants must carry out. Smaller sites are regulated by local authorities. Control and monitoring requirements of emissions to air are set through a BAT approach which informs permit requirements.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has confirmed that the current monitoring of industrial pollution of the sites it regulates in Slough meets all of the requirements set out in the Industrial Emissions Directive. There is an accreditation standard for monitoring of all industrial emissions.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 20/05/2024 14:39:55 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1712831

registered interest
date	22/04/2024
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	Flowers: 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, how many (a) gypsophila, (b) solidago, (c) orchids, (d) dianthus and (e) chrysanthemum consignments were imported from the EU between 2010 and 2020.
tabling member constituency	Rhondda
tabling member printed	Sir Chris Bryant
uin	22911
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2024 answer text <p>During the period described this data was not collected as the goods detailed were not under restriction from the EU.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 25/04/2024 12:35:21 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	1446 label Biography information for Sir Chris Bryant

1702415

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Thames Water
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 undertaken consultations with (a) stakeholders and (b) investors in relation to Operation Timber in the last 12 months.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Fundamentally water companies are commercial entities, and it would be inappropriate to comment further on the specific situation of any individual company.</p><p> </p><p>The Government and Ofwat – the financial regulator for the water sector – are carefully monitoring the situation, and Ofwat continues to engage with Thames Water to support it in improving its financial resilience within the context of its licence and broader statutory obligations.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/04/2024 12:40:29 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702416

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Thames Water
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 he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of Operation Timber.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Fundamentally the company is responsible for raising capital, be it equity or debt – not the regulator or the Government. There are a variety of avenues to explore, which it is vital the company must do, while continuing to fulfil its statutory obligations of providing water and wastewater services to customers.</p><p> </p><p>The Government and Ofwat will always act to protect consumers as a priority and any intervention that would put pressure on the public purse would be considered very seriously and as a last resort.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/04/2024 12:39:02 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702421

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Imports: EU Countries
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 time taken to introduce health and safety checks on imports from the EU on (a) biosecurity and (b) food safety standards.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22805
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We have worked very hard to get this right. We are aware of the uncertainty this may have caused however remain committed to delivering the Government's priorities which includes a commitment to delivering the world’s most effective and efficient border.</p><p> </p><p>We held workshops with industry to develop our ideas on a new Border Target Operating Model, we then tested our conclusions with stakeholders to ensure the model was both ambitious and deliverable. We have engaged closely with stakeholders with a wide range of views, considering the balance of appropriate facilitations with biosecurity and security risks.</p><p> </p><p>We have designed a global risk-based import model for Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods that will deliver a streamlined approach which protects public, plant and animal health, boosts our economic growth, and minimises friction at the border.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 29/04/2024 13:39:18 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702422

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	Imports: EU Countries
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 it remains his policy that the new health and safety checks for EU imports will begin on 30 April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22806
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Yes, the guidance for businesses, Government IT systems and infrastructure are in place, or are on track, to ensure delivery of the BTOM milestones.</p><p> </p><p>Checks are commencing from 30 April and medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as implementation builds up to full check rates and high levels of compliance. DEFRA will gradually increase changes in controlled stages to balance biosecurity risk and maintain trade flows whilst minimising disruption risk at the border. Current check rates applied to rest of world consignments will be maintained, or set to agreed BTOM levels, and will not be impacted by this incremental approach.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 29/04/2024 13:37:14 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702423

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	UK Trade with EU: 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 with Cabinet colleagues of the potential impact of the time taken to implement health and safety checks on EU imports on (a) inventory levels for, (b) costs incurred by and (c) business continuity planning by the retail sector in Slough constituency in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	22807
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>There is no assessment specific to the retail sector in Slough. Overall, the new Border Target Operating model will not reduce choice for domestic consumers and will lead to an approximate increase in consumer food price inflation of less than 0.2 percentage points over a 3-year period. The proposed regime aims to balance the impact on traders with the need to maintain UK biosecurity, which is essential to ensuring a supply of safe food to consumers. We are working closely with traders and the border industry to implement the new regime and minimise impact.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 29/04/2024 13:41:07 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1702494

registered interest
date	19/04/2024
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	River Wear: 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, what steps he is taking to reduce the level of pollution in the River Wear.
tabling member constituency	City of Durham
tabling member printed	Mary Kelly Foy
uin	22815
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2024 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) routinely assesses the level of pollution in the River Wear, taking water samples from multiple sampling sites. The EA is working with the Coal Authority, Northumbrian Water and local farmers to reduce pollution levels in the River Wear.</p><p /><p>Northumbrian Water who operate in and around the River Wear has been informed that the inspection rates of their facilities will increase fourfold over this financial year. This will put the onus on Northumbrian Water to increase compliance at their sites which discharge into the River Wear.</p><p> </p><p>The government's Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan is driving investment to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows. This includes storm overflows discharging into the River Wear.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2011, the Water and Abandoned Metal Mine programme has delivered a number of small-scale interventions in the Wear catchment to begin to address the approximately 80km of the River Wear and its tributaries that are polluted by lead, cadmium or zinc.</p><p> </p><p>Defra and the EA continue to work with farmers in the River Wear catchment, and across the country, to minimise and prevent agricultural pollution. This includes through advice-led enforcement of farm regulations to bring farmers into compliance, providing significant grant funding to improve infrastructure and adopt new technologies, and paying farmers through Environmental Land Schemes to deliver improved environmental outcomes.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 24/05/2024 13:29:44 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4753 label Biography information for Mary Kelly Foy