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1627857

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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	Flood Control: Somerset
	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 her Department is taking to help ensure that Somerset is more resilient to future flood risk.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2023 answer text <p>Somerset has seen significant investment in recent years and has benefitted from the formation of the Somerset Rivers Authority partnership. Over £80 million of investment since 2014 in flood risk interventions helps the Environment Agency better manage flooding. It allows the Environment Agency to take pre-emptive action to delay the onset of flooding, to evacuate the waters more effectively. Together this enables communities to be more resilient and to recover more rapidly from flooding. The below investment was delivered in 2014/15:</p><ul><li>£6m on dredging, financed by DEFRA, delivered by the Environment Agency</li><li>£20m on raising roads and drainage improvements financed by Department of Transport delivered by Somerset County Council</li><li>£20m on repairing flood damage to assets from Defra Flood defence grant-in-aid</li><li>£13m on improvements to the Sowy and Kings Sedgemoor Drain from Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership</li><li>£3.5m on Pumping station extra capacity and improvements at Aller and Westonzoyland</li><li>£500k improvements to the Parrett and Tone hydraulic model.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency are continuing to invest in Somerset, this includes maintaining existing defences and also helping communities to adapt and become more resilient in the face of a changing climate. Ongoing investment includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Bridgwater Tidal Barrier scheme – investment of over £128m – Operational barrier by 2026.</li><li>Dunball Sluice refurbishment – total investment of around £3.6m. Delivery by 2024</li><li>Pumping Station upgrades – Project to invest around £5.5m. Complete by 2025</li><li>Reservoir improvement investment (public safety) – Investment Program of £19m – Delivery complete by 2027</li><li>Taunton Strategic Flood Alleviation Improvements – Council have agreed £6m funding in 3 interventions:</li></ul><p>1. River Tone left bank defence improvements, Frieze Hill to Town Bridge</p><p>2. Raising of Firepool lockgate and defences between the River Tone and the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal (TTC10)</p><p>3. Longrun Meadows - optimising flood water storage.</p><p> </p><p>Communities in Ilminster, Chard and Minehead are also benefitting from recently approved investment to help reduce flood risk. The Environment Agency and Somerset Council have secured funding from the Frequently Flooded Allowance fund to carry out investigative studies on what future flood risk interventions are required.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 19/05/2023 10:31:56 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1627858

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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	Floods: Somerset
	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) homes and (b) businesses in Somerset were affected by flooding in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong>Property Flooding Overview</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of Properties Flooded</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2011</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>15</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2012</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>11</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2013</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2014</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>173</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2015</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>22</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>10</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2019</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>0</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2020</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>26</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2021</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>45</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>304</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong><em> </em></strong></p><p>The above table shows the number of properties flooded during the last 10 years across both business and homes, and includes all sources of flooding – surface water, fluvial and coastal. The source of most of the data comes from Somerset Council report produced post flooding which is why the information is not split between homes and businesses. These reports are produced as part of the Flood &amp; Water Management Act 2010. The reports from 2022 have not yet been published, although the Environment Agency are not aware of any properties flooding in Somerset during 2022.</p><p> </p><p>For 2023 the Environment Agency estimated that 5 properties flooded in January and around 120 properties flooded in May, however they are working with Somerset Council to confirm exact numbers.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/05/2023 15:33:52 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1627860

	registered interest
	date	15/05/2023
	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	Flood Control: Somerset
	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 her Department has made of the resilience of flood protection measures in (a) Somerset, (b) East Somerset and (c) the River Cam catchment area during the winter of 2022–23.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	185044
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2023 answer text <p>Much of Somerset is below sea level and many of its rivers are raised above the ground, so it will always be at risk of coastal and fluvial flooding. In January 2023, the Environment Agency put in place the largest temporary pumping operation in its history on the Somerset Levels and Moors. In combination with the innovative way water was managed through the system, this meant that on this occasion, widespread flooding of property was avoided.</p><p> </p><p>During the Spring, East Somerset has experienced some of the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in the area. This has led to roads becoming unpassable, and in the case of the River Cam, around 100 houses flooding. In all cases, the flood protection measures performed as designed, but were overwhelmed by the volume and intensity of rainfall.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 23/05/2023 15:29:53 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1610427

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2023
	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	Sewage: Waste Disposal
	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 she has made of the impact of sewage spillages on river water quality.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	180560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2023 answer text <p>We have been consistently clear that the failure of water companies to adequately reduce sewage discharges is totally unacceptable. That is why in August 2022, we published the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/storm-overflows-discharge-reduction-plan" target="_blank">Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan</a> - the most ambitious plan to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows in water company history.</p><p> </p><p>Environment Agency data shows that 7% of waterbodies in England failed to reach Good Ecological Status because of storm overflows in 2019, a significant contribution to the 36% affected by the wider water industry. This compares to agriculture affecting 40% of water bodies and urban and transport affecting 18%.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to increasing transparency. We have increased the number of storm overflows monitored across the network from 7% in 2010 to 91% in 2022, and we will reach 100% cover by the end of the year.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this month, we launched our consultation on Continuous Water Quality Monitoring and Event Duration Monitoring. This outlines the Government’s proposals to enhance the monitoring of storm overflow and final effluent discharges.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/04/2023 12:57:59 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1610428

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2023
	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	Sewage: Waste Disposal
	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 her Department is taking to reduce sewage discharges in Somerton and Frome constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	180561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2023 answer text <p>Last year, Government published the <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1101686/Storm_Overflows_Discharge_Reduction_Plan.pdf" target="_blank">Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan</a>, requiring water companies to deliver their largest ever infrastructure investment - £56 billion capital investment over 25 years.</p><p> </p><p>In February 2023, I asked water and sewerage companies to set an action plan on every storm overflow in England. I have also announced water companies will face higher penalties that are quicker and easier to enforce.</p><p> </p><p>In Frome and Somerton, the Environment Agency (EA) are scrutinising Wessex Water’s performance and asset management on a number of fronts, including:</p><ul><li>Working with Wessex Water to implement event duration monitoring to understand how often and for how long storm sewage overflows occur. This enables them to address their network performance and reduce spills.</li><li>Continuing to take tough action where water companies cause sewage pollution of our watercourses by incidents, whether through failing assets or poor maintenance. The EA have a number of enforcement cases against Wessex Water pending.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The EA also regulate private discharges from small-scale sewage treatment works in this rural catchment. They have a monitoring programme, and failures in discharge quality are subject to robust follow-up and, if appropriate, formal action to ensure improvements are made.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/04/2023 09:38:40 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1603092

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2023
	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	Birds: 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 her Department is taking to protect the habitat of woodcock birds.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	162526
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2023 answer text <p>We are expanding and improving woodcock habitat through grant schemes funded by both the Countryside Stewardship scheme and the Nature for Climate Fund. These grants include the Woods into Management Forestry Innovation Funds, which aim to restore vulnerable woodland habitats and improve biodiversity, as well as the England Woodland Creation Offer. In addition, we are introducing new environmental land management schemes, which will pay for activities to create, manage and restore habitats such as woodland, connect isolated habitats to form networks, and other species management actions, all of which will benefit birds such as woodcock.</p><p>Woodcock also benefit from England’s extensive network of protected sites for wildlife such as sites of special scientific interest.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison question first answered 17/03/2023 11:05:48 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1603093

	registered interest
	date	10/03/2023
	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	Apples and Pears: Somerset
	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 steps she has taken with Cabinet colleagues to support apple and pear growers in Somerset.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	162527
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2023 answer text <p>We have supported, and will continue to support, apple and pear growers through multiple avenues. This includes establishing the seasonal worker visa route, the Independent Review of Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, a review of automation in horticulture, and working across Government on energy support. Support for the development of new methods and technologies is available through the Farming Innovation Programme and help to improve environment sustainability and productivity can be sought through the Farming Investment Fund. Apple and pear growers can also benefit from our Environmental Land Management schemes.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 16/03/2023 14:48:57 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1541905

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2022
	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	World War II: Medals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when applications for the Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps veteran’s badge will be reopened.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	86546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>The Women’s Land Army and Timber Corps veteran’s badge scheme is currently paused due to administrative changes. As soon as these changes have been concluded, the re-opening of the scheme will be made clear on the appropriate gov.uk page and communicated to any stakeholders who have made enquiries whilst the scheme has been paused. In the meantime, Defra has been processing outstanding and extraordinary applications. We value all veterans’ valuable service to the war effort and want to ensure that HM Government continues to recognise all those who served the home front during the war.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 22/11/2022 14:21:36 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1536442

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2022
	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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she will announce the results of the review of the Environmental Land Management Schemes; and what further measures will be included in that review to ensure sustainable food production.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	72389
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2022 answer text <p>Protecting our environment is at the heart of the Government's manifesto commitments and we will always back British farmers and our rural communities. We will be continuing to phase out area-based subsidies and roll out environmental land management schemes. We will publish more details shortly.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 04/11/2022 12:06:01 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton

1536444

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2022
	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	Environmental Land Management Schemes
	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 her Department is taking to ensure that farmers are consulted on expansions to the Environment Land Management Scheme.
	tabling member constituency	Somerton and Frome
	tabling member printed	David Warburton
	uin	72390
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2022 answer text <p>Farmers and land managers are at the heart of our Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes. We use a range of methods including social science research, user testing, and co-design to make sure that schemes are developed with and tested by farmers. Their input is ensuring our schemes are accessible, attractive, and fit for purpose.</p><p> </p><p>We have learnt a lot about how to successfully introduce new schemes from our experience developing the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI). For example, the application process and guidance for SFI were made simpler in direct response to the farmers who tested these. To date, our work with farmers and other stakeholders has included:</p><ul><li>Practitioner Working Groups, running since March 2022, where farmers directly shape elements of policy, standards and service design.</li><li>Monthly meetings with 40 stakeholders on specific policy design related to Local Nature Recovery and Sustainable Farming Incentive.</li><li>Fortnightly stakeholder meetings to provide technical updates on the Sustainable Farming Incentive application service and receive feedback.</li><li>Testing and trialling components of the scheme and launching in a controlled way to ensure farmers receive the support they need.</li><li>Piloting our schemes like SFI with farmers to learn from their experiences to improve before schemes go live.</li></ul><p> </p><p>As the ELM scheme offer expands, we will continue to shape our proposals with farmers and land managers – including those with specific requirements, such as tenants, commoners, and those with sites of Special Scientific Interest on their land.</p> answering member constituency Sherwood answering member printed Mark Spencer question first answered 03/11/2022 16:03:37 answering member 4055 label Biography information for Sir Mark Spencer
	tabling member	4526 label Biography information for David Warburton