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1064482

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2019
	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	Plastics: Waste
	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 the Government is taking to reduce the export of plastic waste to developing countries; and if the Government will make an assessment of the potential merits of a complete ban on plastic waste exports to developing countries.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	224034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government wants to export less waste and make sure the waste we do have to export is handled properly. As set out in the Resources and Waste Strategy, the government is putting in place measures to improve the quality of the materials we collect for recycling as well as creating domestic markets for these materials. The government recently published four consultations which will support these ambitions: consistency in materials collected for recycling, reform of the packaging waste producer responsibility system, a deposit return scheme for drinks containers and a tax to encourage the use of recycled material in plastic packaging. In addition, we will seek to tighten controls on exports of all waste, and are exploring a range of measures including increasing monitoring of international waste shipments, improved provision for waste repatriation, and charging higher fees to improve compliance with waste shipment controls.</p><p> </p><p>While waste is a commodity, and there is a global market for secondary materials, it must be and is subject to strict controls. Under EU legislation non-OECD countries elect the controls to be applied in respect of waste exports to their countries from the EU, choosing either to prohibit specific wastes, require prior written approval, apply their own national procedures or no control measures. The authorities in countries that receive waste from the EU need to be clear about the types of waste they will accept and the waste import procedures they require exporters in the EU to adhere to.</p><p> </p><p>The EU Waste Shipment Regulations impose strict conditions on the types of waste that can be exported, and set out procedures that waste exporters must follow. They prohibit the export from the EU of waste for disposal to a country outside the European Free Trade Area (EFTA). Regulation 21 of the UK Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations makes it an offence to transport waste destined for disposal to countries outside the EFTA.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a robust approach to enforcing these controls. In 2017 the Environment Agency (EA) inspected more than 1,000 shipping containers and returned 367 of these to their site of loading. The EA stopped over 7,000 tonnes of waste at ports and prevented nearly 9,000 tonnes of waste from reaching ports.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 28/02/2019 10:15:34 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1064485

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2019
	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	Plastics: Recycling
	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 the Government has made of the feasibility of banning the use of non-recyclable plastics in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	224037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2019 answer text <p>The Government published its Resources and Waste Strategy in December last year which sets out our plans to reduce plastic pollution.</p><p> </p><p>We have committed to working towards all plastic packaging placed on the market being recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently consulting on reforming existing packaging waste regulations, introducing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers, and increasing consistency in the recycling system, which together we expect to drive major improvements in recycling rates. Industry is also committed to increasing the recyclability of plastic packaging, including through the world-leading UK Plastics Pact. We expect these initiatives by industry, combined with our reforms, to work together to eliminate from use the most problematic and difficult to recycle plastic packaging.</p><p> </p><p>As the Resources and Waste Strategy makes clear, however, where progress is insufficient we will explore alternative policy measures, which may take the form of a ban as part of a wider strategic approach. We have already consulted on banning the distribution and/or sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers, and plastic-stemmed cotton buds and will shortly be publishing a summary of responses. We will continue to review the latest evidence on problematic products and/or materials to take a systematic approach to reducing the use of unnecessary single-use plastic products, including problematic packaging materials.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 25/02/2019 17:52:44 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1083556

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2019
	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	Insects: 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, with reference to the study published in the journal Biological Conservation entitled Worldwide decline of the entomofauna: A review of its drivers, what steps his Department will take to reverse the decline of the insect population.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	229598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2019 answer text <p>The study referred to by the Rt. Hon. Member highlights a global issue that requires both global and national action.</p><p> </p><p>UK scientists have been at the forefront of delivering assessments by the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The IPBES global assessment for pollinators concluded that wild pollinators, including many insect groups, have declined in Europe and North America. Data deficiencies precluded assessment in other parts of the world. Regional assessments came to similar conclusions for wider biodiversity, including insects. In Europe, for example, ongoing strong declines were identified in most species groups.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Government acknowledges and is committed to addressing the declines. Internationally, we are determined to play a leading role in the development of an ambitious strategy under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, when its current framework expires in 2020. At the most recent Conference of the Parties to the Convention, in November 2018, we supported action such as the adoption of a global plan for the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators.</p><p> </p><p>At the national level, the Government’s indicators of the abundance of UK butterflies show long term declines since 1976 but no significant change since 2012. Our indicator of pollinating insects in the UK tells a similar story - overall distribution has declined since 1980 but has stabilised in recent years. We are keeping these trends under review as encouraging but not yet definitive signs of progress.</p><p> </p><p>The Government gathers further data on the status of UK pollinators through a UK-wide pollinator monitoring and research partnership, established in collaboration with research institutes and volunteer organisations.</p><p> </p><p>The 25 Year Environment Plan commits to improving the status of insects and each of the four countries of the UK has its own strategy to protect pollinators. We will continue to work in partnership with scientists and practitioners for future generations to inherit a better environment.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/03/2019 11:04:35 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1110626

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2019
	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	Engines: 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, pursuant to section 5.8.1 of the Clean Air Strategy published on 14 January 2019, when he will publish further detail on his proposals to use environmental permitting to tackle emissions from non-road mobile machinery.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	242662
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2019 answer text <p>Non Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) can make a significant contribution to local air pollution, and so it is justified to bring in controls which enable a reduction in their emissions where required. We are currently considering what scope and stringency of controls would be appropriate and will consult on proposals in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 15/04/2019 13:20:54 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1129667

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: Access
	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 effect on his Department's policies of the conclusion of the 2011 post-legislative scrutiny of the Scottish Land Reform Act 2003 that helped formalise and clarify access rights where previously there was informality and ambiguity; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of a similar approach in relation to public access for recreation on inland waterways in England.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	259825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>There has been no assessment made by the Department and none is planned.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/06/2019 09:40:49 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1129668

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: 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 assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of recent efforts by canoeists to clear rubbish and plastic from inland waters; and what steps the Government is taking to ensure that such activity is encouraged and supported on all inland waterways in England.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	259826
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2019 answer text <p>The Government has not made any specific assessments of the effectiveness of recent efforts by canoeists to clear rubbish and plastic from inland waters.</p><p> </p><p>We support and endorse action by volunteers and local communities to take action to address the specific litter issues in their areas, and were pleased to support Keep Britain Tidy’s recent Great British Spring Clean. The Prime Minister has also recently recognised the work of Dhruv Boruah of the Thames Project through a Points of Light Award.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s Litter Strategy recognises that much‑loved features of the local environment such as rivers, canals and beaches can be used as ‘flagship’ locations for clean-up action by communities. Organisations such as the Marine Conservation Society, Thames21 and Surfers Against Sewage are represented on the Community Engagement Working Group which was established under the Litter Strategy to explore the barriers to engaging and involving citizens in tackling litter and improving local places, and to recommend steps to address them.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 10/06/2019 11:41:51 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1129669

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2019
	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	Inland Waterways: Access
	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 Answers of 30 May 2018 to Question 256982 on Canoeing: River Derwent, of 23 May 2019 to Question 254720 on Canoeing and of 15 April 2019 to Question 243346 on Canoeing, if his Department will make an assessment of whether its current policy of locally negotiated access arrangements is delivering adequate public access for recreation on English waters.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	259827
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/06/2019 answer text <p>No.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/06/2019 09:29:17 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

686096

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2017
	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: Death
	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 she is taking to reduce the number of premature deaths attributed to particulate air pollution; and what assessment she has made of the implications for her Department's policies of Public Health England's report, Estimating local mortality burdens associated with particulate air pollution.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	63494
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2017 answer text <p>The Government have committed more than £2 billion since 2011 to reduce transport emissions and the Autumn Statement provided a further £290 million to support greener transport.</p><p> </p><p>We are developing the Air Pollution Action Plan. This is to tackle the five main pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, non-methane volatile organic compounds, ammonia and fine particulate matter. The UK has agreed legally binding national ceilings for emissions of these pollutants by 2020 and 2030.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 14/02/2017 11:18:38 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

691878

	registered interest
	date	20/02/2017
	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: EU Law
	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 plans for the UK to be compliant with the 2008 Ambient Air Quality Directive.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	64339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2017 answer text <p>The UK is meeting limit values for all pollutants covered by the Ambient Air Quality Directive other than those for nitrogen dioxide (NO<sub>2</sub>). We will continue to do more, especially to reduce levels of NO<sub>2</sub>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will set out further measures this year, including consulting on a revised air quality plan on NO<sub>2</sub> by 24 April 2017 and publishing a final plan by 31 July 2017. The plan will set out the measures that will ensure the UK is compliant in the shortest time possible.</p><p> </p><p>In parallel, we are working to implement Clean Air Zones as quickly as possible. We are working closely with local authorities on the detailed design of the zones.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 27/02/2017 11:13:01 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

732594

	registered interest
	date	26/06/2017
	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	Large Goods Vehicles: Exhaust 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, whether emissions from a transport refrigeration unit count towards a heavy goods vehicle's compliance with Euro VI standards when entering a charging Clean Air Zone.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	1101
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2017 answer text <p>Emissions from transport refrigeration units are not included within the European emission standards used for assessing compliance for free entry to charging Clean Air Zones.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Guidance on the operation of Clean Air Zones in England is set out in a Framework published on 5 May this year available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-quality-clean-air-zone-framework-for-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-quality-clean-air-zone-framework-for-england</a>. The Framework encourages local authorities to work with business to reduce pollutant emissions from vehicles, including encouraging the upgrade of refrigeration units on cold chain vehicles to the least polluting options.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK Government has been actively involved in developing new legislation for non-road mobile machinery at a European level that covers transport refrigeration units. The new regulation has recently come into effect and has widened the scope such that any new transport refrigeration unit powered by a combustion engine will be subject to strict new emissions limits from 2019.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 04/07/2017 10:18:20 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake