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1648660

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2023
	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	Biodiversity
	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 to publish the dates for the implementation of biodiversity net gain in (a) November 2023 and (b) April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191648
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>Under the Environment Act 2021, planning permissions granted in England, with a few exemptions, will have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG), with phased implementation starting from November 2023.</p><p> </p><p>BNG will be mandatory for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The exact dates will be announced as soon as possible and are subject to parliamentary timings.</p><p> </p><p>The initial assessment of the additional burden mandatory BNG would place on local planning authorities was made in the BNG Impact Assessment in 2019: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Subsequently Defra worked with the Association of Local Government Ecologists and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning &amp; Transport to undertake a survey of local planning authorities in 2021. This survey was aimed at securing a better understanding of the existing capacity, skills and preparedness of local authorities with respect to BNG and wider Environment Act 2021 measures. The survey outcomes have been published in a report, available at: <a href="https://randd.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectID=20638&amp;FromSearch=Y&amp;Publisher=1&amp;SearchText=NR0183&amp;SortString=ProjectCode&amp;SortOrder=Asc&amp;Paging=10" target="_blank">Defra Science Search</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government announced funding to support local authorities in England with preparation for mandatory BNG of £4.18 million and up to a further £16.71 million during the two-year transition period. Defra is also funding a project with the Planning Advisory Service to support local authorities in preparing for BNG.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 191652 question first answered 04/07/2023 11:39:05 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1648664

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2023
	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	Biodiversity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will provide (a) councils and (b) landowners with details of the conservation covenant responsible body application process before the implementation of biodiversity net gain.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191649
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>Guidance for any organisations considering applying to become a conservation covenant responsible body will be published and the application process launched as soon as possible, in readiness for the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG).</p><p> </p><p>Land for BNG can already be secured via standard planning obligations such as s106.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 191650 191651 question first answered 04/07/2023 11:30:02 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1648665

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2023
	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	Biodiversity
	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 she has made contingency plans in case there are no appropriate and approved conservation covenant responsible bodies in time for the implementation of biodiversity net gain in November.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>Guidance for any organisations considering applying to become a conservation covenant responsible body will be published and the application process launched as soon as possible, in readiness for the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG).</p><p> </p><p>Land for BNG can already be secured via standard planning obligations such as s106.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 191649 191651 question first answered 04/07/2023 11:30:02 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1648666

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2023
	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	Biodiversity
	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 she has made an assessment of the potential impact of delays in the availability of conservation covenants on the ability of local authorities to prepare the implementation of biodiversity net gain in November 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191651
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>Guidance for any organisations considering applying to become a conservation covenant responsible body will be published and the application process launched as soon as possible, in readiness for the implementation of biodiversity net gain (BNG).</p><p> </p><p>Land for BNG can already be secured via standard planning obligations such as s106.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 191649 191650 question first answered 04/07/2023 11:30:02 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1648667

	registered interest
	date	28/06/2023
	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	Biodiversity
	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 has made of the adequacy of the capacity of local planning authorities to implement biodiversity net gain for (a) large sites in November 2023 and (b) smaller sites in April 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	191652
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/07/2023 answer text <p>Under the Environment Act 2021, planning permissions granted in England, with a few exemptions, will have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain (BNG), with phased implementation starting from November 2023.</p><p> </p><p>BNG will be mandatory for most new major development under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 from November this year, for minor development from April 2024 and for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects from 2025.</p><p> </p><p>The exact dates will be announced as soon as possible and are subject to parliamentary timings.</p><p> </p><p>The initial assessment of the additional burden mandatory BNG would place on local planning authorities was made in the BNG Impact Assessment in 2019: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/839610/net-gain-ia.pdf" target="_blank">Net gain impact assessment</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Subsequently Defra worked with the Association of Local Government Ecologists and the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning &amp; Transport to undertake a survey of local planning authorities in 2021. This survey was aimed at securing a better understanding of the existing capacity, skills and preparedness of local authorities with respect to BNG and wider Environment Act 2021 measures. The survey outcomes have been published in a report, available at: <a href="https://randd.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectID=20638&amp;FromSearch=Y&amp;Publisher=1&amp;SearchText=NR0183&amp;SortString=ProjectCode&amp;SortOrder=Asc&amp;Paging=10" target="_blank">Defra Science Search</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Government announced funding to support local authorities in England with preparation for mandatory BNG of £4.18 million and up to a further £16.71 million during the two-year transition period. Defra is also funding a project with the Planning Advisory Service to support local authorities in preparing for BNG.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 191648 question first answered 04/07/2023 11:39:05 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1645721

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2023
	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	Wildlife: Smuggling
	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 tackle the illegal trade in wildlife.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	190188
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2023 answer text <p>The UK is committed to combatting the illegal wildlife trade to benefit biodiversity, local communities, and the economy, while protecting global security. As part of this commitment, we are increasing our funding and will invest a further £30 million between 2022 and 2025. This includes through Defra’s grant scheme, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which to date has supported 136 projects in over 60 countries, including projects to change behaviours, strengthen wildlife crime legislation, and help communities to protect the wildlife they rely on for their livelihoods.</p><p>We recognise the importance of regularly assessing the impact and effectiveness of our efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Most recently, in May 2022, an independent evaluation was carried out on Defra’s Biodiversity Funds, including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The evaluation found strong alignment with the aims of various Multilateral Environmental Agreements, particularly the Convention on Biodiversity, and that projects are highly aligned with the needs of the countries they operate in. The full report can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.darwininitiative.org.uk%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2FMonitoring-Evaluation-and-Learning-Report_Publishable.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4b97a161a62342b72c6908db723a6e7a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638229367502207105%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=UYhYCBu28hQ082Av8FG%2Fo7ka6K38V5e1fBKOgklHAug%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/assets/uploads/Monitoring-Evaluation-and-Learning-Report_Publishable.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 190218 question first answered 26/06/2023 08:19:05 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1645751

	registered interest
	date	19/06/2023
	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	Wildlife: Smuggling
	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 assessment she has made of the effectiveness of her policies in tackling the illegal wildlife trade.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	190218
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2023 answer text <p>The UK is committed to combatting the illegal wildlife trade to benefit biodiversity, local communities, and the economy, while protecting global security. As part of this commitment, we are increasing our funding and will invest a further £30 million between 2022 and 2025. This includes through Defra’s grant scheme, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, which to date has supported 136 projects in over 60 countries, including projects to change behaviours, strengthen wildlife crime legislation, and help communities to protect the wildlife they rely on for their livelihoods.</p><p>We recognise the importance of regularly assessing the impact and effectiveness of our efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade. Most recently, in May 2022, an independent evaluation was carried out on Defra’s Biodiversity Funds, including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund. The evaluation found strong alignment with the aims of various Multilateral Environmental Agreements, particularly the Convention on Biodiversity, and that projects are highly aligned with the needs of the countries they operate in. The full report can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.darwininitiative.org.uk%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2FMonitoring-Evaluation-and-Learning-Report_Publishable.pdf&amp;data=05%7C01%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4b97a161a62342b72c6908db723a6e7a%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638229367502207105%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=UYhYCBu28hQ082Av8FG%2Fo7ka6K38V5e1fBKOgklHAug%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.darwininitiative.org.uk/assets/uploads/Monitoring-Evaluation-and-Learning-Report_Publishable.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 190188 question first answered 26/06/2023 08:19:05 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1609789

	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	Barbecues: Sales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of banning the sale of disposable barbecues.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	179922
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2023 answer text <p>The public are encouraged to always behave responsibly when using products which have a fire risk.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to prohibit the sale of disposable barbeques or sky lanterns at this time, and there are existing powers available that limit the use in certain places.</p><p> </p><p>Current 'Byelaw' legislation allows for local authorities to restrict the use of disposable barbecues in parks and public spaces. These are steps that Dorset Council and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council among others have already taken. The Government encourages all local authorities to use these existing powers to take similar steps if they feel it necessary.</p><p> </p><p>There are also existing powers in legislation which can be used to regulate and prohibit the lighting of fires on access land in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and National Parks. The New Forest and Peak District National Park Authorities have already banned the use of disposable barbecues within their boundaries and have successfully collaborated with several retailers to remove disposable barbecues from a great many stores.</p> answering member constituency Copeland answering member printed Trudy Harrison grouped question UIN 180348 question first answered 19/04/2023 11:05:07 answering member 4593 label Biography information for Trudy Harrison
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1281599

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2021
	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	Dredging: Weaver Vale
	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 potential merits of dredging the River Weaver in the Northwich and Sutton Weaver areas of Weaver Vale constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	145135
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Dredging is an important part of the Environment Agency’s (EA) river maintenance regime. The EA will undertake dredging where there is evidence that it will reduce flood risk to local properties cost effectively without increasing flooding downstream.</p><p> </p><p>The River Weaver is a water course modified to act as a navigation and as such the water level is controlled via structures and assets that are owned and operated by the Canal &amp; River Trust. The navigation sections are dredged to maintain standards to allow the draught of vessels.</p><p> </p><p>The EA investigated the potential merits of dredging in 2013 as part of its assessment of options for reducing the risk of flooding in Northwich. The EA looked at different siltation scenarios, including if silt levels and shoals built up, to see what impact there would be on flood risk. The EA concluded that this was not a significant issue in relation to controlling water levels in Northwich, and dredging was not found to be beneficial.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has allocated resource to the future maintenance of the assets – the defence walls and demountable assets – that protect the town from main river flooding. However it has not allocated funding to dredging the River Weaver.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 145136 question first answered 02/02/2021 17:38:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1281606

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2021
	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	Dredging: Weaver Vale
	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 plans his Department has to allocate funding to a regular schedule of dredging for the river Weaver and Dane in Weaver Vale constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	145136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>Dredging is an important part of the Environment Agency’s (EA) river maintenance regime. The EA will undertake dredging where there is evidence that it will reduce flood risk to local properties cost effectively without increasing flooding downstream.</p><p> </p><p>The River Weaver is a water course modified to act as a navigation and as such the water level is controlled via structures and assets that are owned and operated by the Canal &amp; River Trust. The navigation sections are dredged to maintain standards to allow the draught of vessels.</p><p> </p><p>The EA investigated the potential merits of dredging in 2013 as part of its assessment of options for reducing the risk of flooding in Northwich. The EA looked at different siltation scenarios, including if silt levels and shoals built up, to see what impact there would be on flood risk. The EA concluded that this was not a significant issue in relation to controlling water levels in Northwich, and dredging was not found to be beneficial.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has allocated resource to the future maintenance of the assets – the defence walls and demountable assets – that protect the town from main river flooding. However it has not allocated funding to dredging the River Weaver.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow grouped question UIN 145135 question first answered 02/02/2021 17:38:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury