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1124135

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	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	Agriculture and Waste Disposal: Carbon Emissions
	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 emissions in agriculture and waste management.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	249917
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Defra is committed to take action to mitigate climate change and to adapt to its impact. As the cornerstone of our future agriculture policy, the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) system will pay public money for the provision of environmental public goods, including mitigation and adaption to climate change. Our Clean Growth Strategy (CGS) and 25 Year Environment Plan also set out a range of specific commitments to reduce emissions from agriculture.</p><p>This year we have started to develop a new emissions reduction plan for agriculture, which will set out our long-term vision for a more productive, low-carbon farming sector. This policy development will be informed by research, modelling, stakeholder engagement and feasibility studies. We are establishing a Lowland Agricultural Peat Taskforce to identify how to protect our peat carbon stores and prevent further emissions. In addition we are making progress towards our target to plant 11 million new trees in this parliament and continuing to phase down fluorinated gases.</p><p>For waste, the majority of our emissions are in the form of methane generated by biodegradable waste breaking down anaerobically in landfill. We have made significant improvements in this area, with emissions from the waste sector falling by 70% since 1990. This is mostly due to the implementation of methane recovery systems at UK landfill sites, as well as policies such as the landfill tax reducing the amount of waste disposed of here.</p><p> </p><p>Further improvements will come from policies announced in the recent Resources and Waste Strategy, which are currently being consulted on. For example, we want to introduce a consistent set of materials to be collected across local authorities and municipal businesses, which would include food waste being collected separately. This is expected to divert a significant amount of biodegradable waste away from landfill and therefore lead to a reduction in the associated emissions.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 08/05/2019 14:47:30 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1054758

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2019
	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	Agriculture: Ammonia
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Government's press release entitled Government launches world leading plan to tackle air pollution, published in 14 January 2019, what the evidential basis is for the statement that agriculture is responsible for 88% of ammonia emissions.
	tabling member constituency	Morley and Outwood
	tabling member printed	Andrea Jenkyns
	uin	216410
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>The data used in compiling this statistic are 2016 figures from the UK National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) which is available via the uk-air.defra.gov.uk website. The NAEI reports emissions of air pollutants from all sources including the agriculture sector.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 11/02/2019 09:56:34 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4490 label Biography information for Dame Andrea Jenkyns

1109739

	registered interest
	date	04/04/2019
	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	Agriculture: Carbon Emissions
	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 discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero emissions target for farming.
	tabling member constituency	Bristol East
	tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
	uin	240986
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>There is no record of the Secretary of State having discussions with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero target for farming.</p><p>In October 2018, Government commissioned advice on our long-term targets from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change, including on the setting of a net zero target. We will consider their evidence-based advice carefully when it is received.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:13:42 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1133707

	registered interest
	date	20/06/2019
	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	Agriculture: Environment Protection
	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 effectiveness of the role of Natural England in helping farmers to improve their environment.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
	uin	267338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>The Department regularly reviews Natural England’s performance including via formal Ministerial review. Natural England is required to report progress to Defra’s supervisory board and the Secretary of State.</p><p> </p><p>Natural England plays an important role in delivering the 25 Year Environment Plan, providing advice to help farmers to improve their environment. Natural England advisers provide valuable advice on how to effectively manage wildlife and habitats, promoting nature conservation and protecting biodiversity. This includes advice to help landowners set up agri-environment agreements and aftercare advice during the lifetime of the agreements, as well as for other projects that such as the ‘Back to the Brink’ species recovery project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other charitable organisations.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/06/2019 15:41:31 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

1134047

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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	Agriculture: Plastics
	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 reduce the effect of plasticulture on the environment; and what support his Department is giving to farmers to tackle plastic waste within their businesses.
	tabling member constituency	Delyn
	tabling member printed	David Hanson
	uin	268406
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>This is a devolved matter and the answer applies to England only.</p><p>Our Resources and Waste Strategy, published in December last year, builds on commitments in our 25 Year Environment Plan and sets out plans to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste. This is a seismic shift – it is not just about single use plastics, for example, but about all plastics, including those used in agriculture.</p><p>Plastics are used on farms for a number of reasons. Wrapping hay and silage bales, transporting feed and fertiliser, and insulating and protecting soil and horticultural crops, for example. The materials used are mostly recyclable, however attempts to collect it for recycling have often been unsuccessful, due to high levels of contamination making the recycling process uneconomic. The Government recognises the issues caused by inappropriate disposal of agricultural plastic, and we are working with the Environment Agency and the Waste and Resources Action Programme to explore how Government policy can address them.</p><p>Plastics used in agriculture are ultimately a small proportion of the total volume of plastics used, and the Government is taking a prioritised approach to tackling the overarching problem of plastic pollution. Earlier this year we published consultations on a number of key policy measures to significantly change the way that we manage our waste and to reduce the impacts of plastic on the environment: reforming existing packaging waste regulations; exploring the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers; and increasing consistency in the recycling system, along with a parallel consultation on the plastic packaging tax that the Chancellor announced in the Budget last year. We will publish the Government responses to these consultations on the GOV.UK website in due course.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 13:28:22 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	533 label Biography information for David Hanson

1134637

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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
	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 ensure co-operation with the EU on tackling air pollution after the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
	uin	269048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains a signatory to the 1979 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, and will continue to be at the forefront of international action and cooperation to tackle transboundary air pollution alongside the EU.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 13:23:32 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

1134638

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2019
	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
	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 promote cross-departmental collaboration on adopting World Health Organisation standards for fine particulate matter.
	tabling member constituency	Totnes
	tabling member printed	Dr Sarah Wollaston
	uin	269049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Air Strategy sets out our commitments to take bold action across all parts of Government to achieve reductions in air pollution. We are committed to the setting of an ambitious long term target to reduce population exposure to PM<sub>2.5</sub>. Defra continues to work closely with other Government departments and agencies to deliver the Strategy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 09:34:55 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4073 label Biography information for Dr Sarah Wollaston

1134172

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2019
	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
	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 people in England are living in an area with an illegal level of air pollution.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	268387
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/07/2019 answer text <p>The UK meets legal limits for concentrations of all air pollutants, with the exception of nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>). Calculating peoples’ annual NO<sub>2</sub> exposure is not straightforward, because an individual’s exposure varies as they move about their daily life. The Government therefore does not hold estimates of the number of people exposed to NO<sub>2</sub> levels above legal limits.</p><p> </p><p>The vast majority of exceedances of the NO<sub>2</sub> limits occur at roadside locations within ten metres of the kerb. We are working with a number of local authorities to reduce roadside NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations, and our latest modelling indicates that 9% of the road links assessed exceeded NO<sub>2</sub> limits.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 01/07/2019 09:30:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1133162

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2019
	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
	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 his Department has made of the financial resources required to meet WHO standards for fine particulate matter by 2030; and what assessment he has made of the steps taken by European cities such as Stockholm who have already met those those standards.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton North East
	tabling member printed	Emma Reynolds
	uin	266718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2019 answer text <p>The Clean Air Strategy outlined a range of measures to meet our emissions reduction commitments to 2020 and 2030. Impact assessments will evaluate the costs and benefits to public health as these specific measures are introduced. Further analysis is ongoing to estimate what additional interventions would be needed to meet World Health Organisation air quality guideline levels of PM<sub>2.5</sub> alongside associated costs, and this additional analysis will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 24/06/2019 08:59:40 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds

1130364

	registered interest
	date	06/06/2019
	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
	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 total emissions were in England of (a) PM2.5, (b) PM1 and (c) PM0.1 in (i) 2018 and (ii) 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Stroud
	tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
	uin	261096
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/06/2019 answer text <p>Defra publishes the report: ‘Air Pollutant Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland’ in the autumn each year. This report provides the total annual emissions in England of PM<sub>2.5</sub>. 2018 total emissions of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in England will be published in autumn 2020, and 2017 total emissions of PM<sub>2.5</sub> in England will be published in autumn 2019. The URL for the latest report is:</p><p><a href="https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/1810160958_DA_Air_Pollutant_Inventories_1990-2016_Issue1.pdf" target="_blank">https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/assets/documents/reports/cat09/1810160958_DA_Air_Pollutant_Inventories_1990-2016_Issue1.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>Emissions of PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>0.1</sub> are not estimated for England, however they are estimated for the UK. The National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory (NAEI) website holds the database of UK annual emissions for a wide range of air pollutants including PM<sub>2.5</sub>, PM<sub>1</sub> and PM<sub>0.1</sub>.</p><p> </p><p>The database for UK emissions of particulate matter from 1970 to 2017 can be accessed from the following URL: <a href="http://naei.beis.gov.uk/data/data-selector?view=pms" target="_blank">http://naei.beis.gov.uk/data/data-selector?view=pms</a>.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/06/2019 10:47:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew