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1246901

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2020
	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	Low Pay: Rural Areas
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address (1) low pay among those living in rural areas, and (2) the gap in average earnings between those living in rural and urban areas.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9725
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2020 answer text <p>There is no gap in median earnings between those living in rural and urban areas. Indeed, on a residence basis, in 2019 median gross annual earnings of £24,300 in predominantly rural areas were on a par with those in predominantly urban areas excluding London, which were £24,200.</p><p>Government policy is based on economic prosperity and helping people out of poverty wherever they live. The National Living Wage was increased by 6.2% to £8.72 per hour from 1 April 2020, above inflation and average earnings. Rates for younger workers were also increased. These increases were estimated to raise the pay of over 2 million workers across the UK.</p><p>Universal Credit promotes work as an effective route out of poverty. The Government has made significant investment to improve Universal Credit through the reduction in the taper rate from 65% to 63% in 2017, and an extra £1.7 billion a year put into Work Allowances by 2023/24, increasing them by £1,000 a year for working parents and disabled claimants from April 2019. This has put an extra £630 a year in the pockets of 2.4 million of the lowest paid households.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 11/11/2020 16:38:02 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246899

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2020
	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: Standards
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps (1) they, and (2) the Environment Agency, are taking to ensure that surface water bodies in England meet a ‘good’ standard under the Water Framework Directive.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2020 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) and Defra work together closely on addressing the pressures that prevent water bodies in England from meeting 'good' status.</p><p>Through regulation, enforcement, financial incentives and educational schemes, we are improving poor farming practices which lead to water pollution. We are also working with water companies to tackle head-on, sewage discharge from storm overflows. A new Taskforce has been set up between Defra, the EA, Ofwat and water companies which will meet regularly and set out clear proposals to reduce the frequency and volumes of sewage discharges.</p><p>In 2019 the EA issued, monitored and enforced 4,263 water quality permits, protecting water quality. In the last five years the EA has undertaken 44 prosecutions against water companies, securing fines of £34 million. Since 2008 the EA made changes to over 300 abstraction licences that have returned 47 billion litres of water a year to the environment, improving river levels and flows.</p><p>Water improvement is also supported by significant funding from water companies, required in their statutory duties. In the current Price Review period (2020-25) they have committed £4.6 billion towards environmental improvements.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 11/11/2020 15:49:30 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246848

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2020
	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: North of England
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the target date for the completion of the planting for the Northern Forest; and whether they are on target to meet that date.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>As part of the 25 Year Environment Plan, we provided a kick-start investment of £5.7 million to support the Northern Forest Partnership (NFP) of the Community Forests and the Woodland Trust. The partnership’s long-term ambition is to plant 50 million trees across the North. Our initial investment is funding at least 1.8 million new trees by 2022, and through further investment in tree planting in this parliament we will go above and beyond that.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work with the NFP to identify, develop and implement delivery plans to ensure new trees are planted in the places of greatest need and that these trees are well managed and maintained for current and future generations to enjoy.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 10/11/2020 16:02:15 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246847

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2020
	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 Companies: Standards
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish annual league tables of the performance of water companies in tackling leakage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9651
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>Water company performance data is already published annually on the Discover Water website at www.discoverwater.co.uk, including leakage, and companies provide data to the Environment Agency on water losses.</p><p> </p><p>Our 2018 Water Conservation Report sets an ambitious target of 50% reduction in leakage by 2050, endorsing the industry’s existing commitment to this reduction. We will continue to hold the water industry to account on this and to support measures taken to reduce leakage.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 10/11/2020 16:00:42 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246846

	registered interest
	date	27/10/2020
	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	Protective Clothing: Waste Disposal
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have conducted an environmental impact assessment of the disposal of single use face masks; and if so, what was the outcome of any such assessment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>We have not carried out an assessment on the environmental impact of the disposal of single-use face masks.</p><p> </p><p>Face coverings required indoors are not the same as the single-use surgical masks or respirators used by healthcare and other workers as part of their PPE. These should continue to be reserved for those who need them to protect against risks in their workplace. Instead, the latest Government advice on face coverings provides instructions on how people can make and care for reusable face coverings at home using scarves or other washable textiles. This is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering</a></p><p> </p><p>Reusable cloth face coverings are also available to buy from a wide range of retail outlets, including online.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has published guidance on the disposal of face coverings and other PPE during the coronavirus pandemic. This is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-disposing-of-waste" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-disposing-of-waste</a></p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park attachment 1 file name How to make a cloth face covering - GOV.UK.pdf title How to make a cloth face covering - GOV.UK 2 file name Coronavirus (COVID-19)_ disposing of waste - GOV.UK.pdf title Coronavirus (COVID-19) disposing of waste - GOV.UK question first answered 10/11/2020 16:17:19 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246445

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2020
	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 Protection
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 19 October (HL8726), what will be the status of environmental complaints involving the UK currently under consideration by the EU if they are unresolved when the transition period ends on 1 January 2021.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9482
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>Unresolved environmental complaints that are currently under consideration can continue to be considered by the EU after the transition period. As specified in the Agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, with limited exceptions the Commission will continue to be competent for administrative procedures initiated before the end of the transition period, and the EU Court of Justice will continue to have jurisdiction over such cases. In addition, the withdrawal agreement includes a further four years from the end of the transition period, during which the Commission may bring cases before the Court of Justice for alleged infringements of EU law that occurred before the end of the transition period.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/11/2020 16:07:31 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246444

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2020
	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	Office for Environmental Protection: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 19 October (HL8726), whether the Office of Environmental Protection will be granted additional resources to deal with any backlog of complaints occuring following the delay in its establishment.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9481
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>As specified in the Environment Bill, the Secretary of State will provide the OEP with the resources that he considers reasonably sufficient to enable the OEP to carry out its functions. This will include consideration of what resources the OEP will need to handle complaints, including those passed to it from the interim arrangements. Defra will agree the OEP’s resourcing with HM Treasury through a budget that will be announced after the Environment Bill achieves Royal Assent.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/11/2020 16:11:53 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1246443

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2020
	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	Office for Environmental Protection: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park on 19 October (HL8726), whether the interim Office of Environmental Protection will have the resources to begin to investigate complaints prior to the granting of formal powers to do so when it is established in law.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2020 answer text <p>Members of the public will be able to submit complaints about alleged failures of public authorities to comply with environmental law to Defra's interim environmental governance secretariat from the start of next year until the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) begins its statutory functions. The secretariat will assess complaints received against the criteria specified in the Environment Bill to determine if they will fall within the remit of possible investigation by the OEP.</p><p> </p><p>The secretariat will have the resources to conduct these processes, interacting with the complainants and public authorities in question to gather further information where needed. It will assess the information received and pass it on to the OEP once established, so that the OEP can determine which complaints to consider further through the exercise of its legal functions including formal investigations and, where necessary, enforcement.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/11/2020 16:11:25 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1245656

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2020
	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	Pesticides
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides has conducted a review into the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement of pesticide spraying in fields adjoining residential areas.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9421
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2020 answer text <p>The UK Expert Committee on Pesticides (ECP) has not conducted such a review.</p><p> </p><p>Pesticides are only authorised for use in situations where scientific assessment finds that this will not harm human health, including that of local residents, and will not pose unacceptable risks to the environment. Those using pesticides are required to take all reasonable precautions to protect human health and the environment and to confine the application of the pesticide to the area intended to be treated. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) considers reports of non-compliance in line with its published enforcement policy.</p><p> </p><p>Incidents in which people may have been affected by pesticides are monitored, including through work carried out by the National Poisons Information Service. HSE uses the intelligence gathered to inform decisions on enforcement priorities and the ECP regularly reviews the data produced.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 04/11/2020 11:54:52 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

1245654

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2020
	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	Pesticides: Sustainable Development
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 20 October (HL Deb, col 1471), what is the timetable for the consultation on the update to the UK National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
	uin	HL9419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2020 answer text <p>The revised UK National Action Plan or the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP) is currently under ministerial review. The public consultation is due to be published in November. This will be a full public consultation lasting 12 weeks and we are actively encouraging a range of stakeholders to provide their views. All responses will be carefully considered.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 04/11/2020 11:46:37 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch