Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1714110

registered interest
date	26/04/2024
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	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution
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 the cost to the public purse was of government procurement card spending by his Department in each year since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Croydon North
tabling member printed	Steve Reed
uin	23869
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2024 answer text <p>The table below sets out total expenditure using government procurement cards for the given financial years. Information relating to 2010 to 2016 is not readily available.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Amount</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>£147,167</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>£474,619</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>£1,324,366</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019-20</p></td><td><p>£1,311,324</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020-21</p></td><td><p>£698,353</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021-22</p></td><td><p>£584,345</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022-23</p></td><td><p>£660,352</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2023-24</p></td><td><p>£646,102</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Sir Mark Spencer question first answered 07/05/2024 12:30:16 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

1713859

registered interest
date	25/04/2024
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	Plastics: Treaties
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 is participating in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa that began on 23 April 2024.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North East
tabling member printed	Fabian Hamilton
uin	23677
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>The Department participated in the fourth session of negotiations on a global plastics treaty in Ottawa. Officials from Defra attended the fourth session of negotiations to develop a global plastics pollution treaty, and I attended the high-level segment hosted by Canada ahead of the start of formal negotiations. The UK’s negotiating mandate covers the relevant policy from across Government departments and we continue to strongly support the active and meaningful participation of stakeholders, including UK businesses, at all stages of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process. As a founding member of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution, the UK remains committed to securing an ambitious treaty by the end of 2024 that includes measures to address plastic pollution across the full lifecycle of plastic. We continue to work closely with other member states and stakeholders at, and beyond, the fourth session of the INC to advance negotiations and pave the way for a historic agreement.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 30/04/2024 16:03:14 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	415 label Biography information for Fabian Hamilton

1713178

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Forests: Conservation
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 bring the majority of Plantation on Ancient Woodland Sites into restoration by 2030.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	23179
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The Keepers of Time policy, updated in 2021, sets out our principles and objectives to protect and improve ancient and native woodland and trees for future generations. Restoring ancient woodlands that are ecologically degraded is a high priority for the Government. This includes restoring plantations on ancient woodland sites by gradually transforming stands from non-native planted species to native species.</p><p> </p><p>We provide support and incentives through Countryside Stewardship and the HS2 Woodland Fund to restore plantations on ancient woodland sites (PAWS). We are currently considering how best to support and incentivise PAWS restoration in future environmental land management schemes while making sure they continue to provide owners with income. We support Forestry England to manage ancient woodland sites across the nation’s forests to improve their ecological value and ultimately restore all plantations on ancient woodland sites to resilient native woodland.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/04/2024 12:43:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1713179

registered interest
date	23/04/2024
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	Forests: Non-native Species
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 hectares of plantations on ancient woodland sites have had licences granted for clearfell and replanting with non-native trees in the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	23180
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The Forestry Commission is the regulator for the legal felling of trees in England under the provisions in the Forestry Act. Most felling licences issued require felled trees or areas of woodland to be replaced by replanting or allowed to regenerate. The exception to this is a thinning licence, where sufficient woodland cover is retained so as not to require restocking.</p><p> </p><p>When considering a felling licence application the Forestry Commission will judge the proposals against the UK Forestry Standard, the government’s approach to sustainable forestry. This is available on GOV.UK at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard</a>. This standard encompasses the impacts on biodiversity and recognises the importance of priority habitats and species. This is why a felling licence also includes advice and guidance on additional issues a landowner needs to take into account.</p><p> </p><p>The restocking conditions in a felling licence are put in place to help meet the aims of the management of the site through good silvicultural practice. While the Forestry Commission does advise on a suitable species mix there are no provisions in the Forestry Act to mandate the source of trees and whether they are native or non-native.</p><p> </p><p>The guide to Managing England’s woodlands in a climate emergency, advises to manage ancient woodlands in a manner which conserves important biodiversity and heritage features. Greater diversification of species and origin of stands is advised, with a focus on southerly provenances of native species. Due to the unknown nature of acceleration of climate change, management intervention may need to be more frequent in order to preserve these rare habitats effectively. This is available on GOV.UK at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-englands-woodlands-in-a-climate-emergency" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-englands-woodlands-in-a-climate-emergency</a>.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/04/2024 12:41:23 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

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

1702291

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
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	Environment Agency: Floods
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 additional projects the Environment Agency has completed in response to flooding in the last two years.
tabling member constituency	North Shropshire
tabling member printed	Helen Morgan
uin	22663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>We are in the fourth year of the current 6-year £5.6 billion <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fflood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-an-investment-plan-for-2021-to-2027&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7Caea54baf54ce4157350808dc62bb4751%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638493803710458117%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=gMn4zPwvgNa50a63WjpGZfk6bbu82nsy8dUzrWpf3lA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM) investment programme.</a> This investment programme will better protect hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of March 2024, approximately £2.3 billion of this funding has been invested with over 88,000 properties better protected from flooding and coastal erosion. This was delivered through 300 completed projects.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/04/2024 12:35:40 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4934 label Biography information for Helen Morgan

1702336

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
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: Fees and Charges
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 adequacy of border control posts ahead of the introduction of the common user charge on 30 April; and what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the common user charge on the UK’s environmental horticulture industry.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
uin	HL3947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Defra is confident that existing and new BCP infrastructure will have sufficient capacity and capability to handle the volume of expected checks outlined in the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), with robust, dynamic, and effective operational measures ready to call upon if needed.</p><p> </p><p>Defra will continue to work with existing BCP operators to ensure they are prepared, and the Government has built new infrastructure at critical locations.</p><p> </p><p>Operators have not expressed concerns regarding under-capacity, we are therefore not anticipating queues but will continue working closely with operators to address any concerns they may have.</p><p> </p><p>The common user charge for BCP operating costs applies only to UK government-run BCPs. Commercial operators will independently set BCP charges for their own facilities.</p><p> </p><p>The impact of the Common User Charge (CUC) on businesses of all sizes will be kept under monthly and quarterly reviews, with rates reviewed and updated annually.</p><p> </p><p>Full details of the CUC can be found on GOV.UK.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 29/04/2024 13:12:24 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1702337

registered interest
date	18/04/2024
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	Plants and Trees: Import Controls
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending the place of destination (PoD) scheme to allow inspection of horticulture imports at a registered PoD until border control posts are fully functional for the purpose of plant and tree imports.
tabling member printed	Baroness Hayman of Ullock
uin	HL3948
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Defra is confident that existing and new Border Control Posts infrastructure will have sufficient capacity and capability to handle the volume of expected checks outlined in the Border Target Operating Model, with robust, dynamic, and effective operational measures ready to call upon if needed.</p><p> </p><p>Looking ahead, we are piloting an ambitious programme of trusted trader assurance schemes for sanitary and phytosanitary goods. The pilots will explore how businesses can provide assurance through data, technology and trusted relationships and take increased responsibility for controls.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 29/04/2024 13:10:28 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4395 label Biography information for Baroness Hayman of Ullock

1701071

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Water Supply: Planning
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 encourage agencies involved in water management to produce joint plans.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	21724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>In January 2023, the Government published its Environmental Improvement Plan. This included a commitment for more joined up management of the water system. The current water and floods policy and legal framework has been developed incrementally over time, resulting in over 15 national plans and strategic documents. Whilst each plan has its own purpose, we want to make the whole framework more outcome-focussed and fully integrated with other environmental plans and government delivery plans. We reiterated this commitment in our landmark Plan for Water published in April 2023.</p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Robbie Moore question first answered 29/04/2024 09:33:32 answering member 4861 label Biography information for Robbie Moore
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell