<\/p>
Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Windsor on Monday, 24 February 2014, Official Report column 83W, the Environment Agency is continuing to work with partners to develop the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington). This includes flood channel capacity improvements, property level protection measures and the construction of three new channels.<\/p>
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<\/p>
<\/p>
Preparatory work, which is under way, includes establishing appropriate consents and approval needed with planning authorities, undertaking surveys needed to gain consents, and the development of a funding package with other risk management authorities. The Environment Agency is planning to submit its Strategic Outline Case for this project to Defra as part of the HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office's Major Projects Authority approvals process.<\/p>
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<\/p>
<\/p>
The Environment Agency aims to start the work on improving weir capacity in 2016.<\/p>
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<\/p>
<\/p>
Full appraisal and outline design of the flood channel and capacity improvements will commence this summer. It is expected that this will take three to four years to enable the proposal for the new flood channels to be submitted for planning consents and authorisations. It is estimated that the construction of the flood channel will commence in 2020 and will take five to six years to complete.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1504", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dan Rogerson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Cornwall"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dan Rogerson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-05-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-05-06T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Lower Thames Scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1586", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Adam Afriyie"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Windsor"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Adam Afriyie"} ], "uin" : "196841"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48209", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/48209/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Government has made no specific assessment on the use of prong collars on dogs. However, it would be an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to cause any unnecessary suffering to a dog by using a prong collar. Such an offence would be punishable by a fine of up to £20,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camborne and Redruth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Eustice"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-04-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-04-28T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of prong collars on the welfare of dogs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1447", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Rosindell"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Romford"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Rosindell"} ], "uin" : "196297"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/46686", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/46686/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
The requirements of the crop diversification measure of greening, also known as the \u201cthree crop rule\u201d, apply to the total arable area of a holding.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
Farmers with between 10ha and 30ha of eligible arable land will usually need to grow at least two crops. Farmers with over 30ha of eligible arable land will usually need to grow at least three crops. Compliance with the measure will be assessed at the holding level, not the parcel level.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2202", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord De Mauley"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord De Mauley"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-04-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-04-09T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the three crop rule included in the new Common Agricultural Policy relates to single parcels of land owned or rented by one person or company, or whether the entire holding can be treated as one parcel of land.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3343", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Byford"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Byford"} ], "uin" : "HL6564"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47006", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47006/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
As at 8 April 2014, 69 prosecutions have been undertaken against 44 individuals<\/p>
<\/p>
and companies that operated without a licence, one company that obstructed the<\/p>
<\/p>
Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) officers, and 24 individuals and<\/p>
<\/p>
companies that used the services of unlicensed gangmasters.<\/p>
<\/p>
A standard GLA licence allows a gangmaster to undertake activity in both<\/p>
<\/p>
agriculture and food supply. As a result, the GLA do not retain data on<\/p>
whether individual prosecutions related to agriculture or food supply.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3787", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Holbeach"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-04-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-04-29T12:00:00.00Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-04-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the 67 successful prosecutions brought by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority since the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 are related to \"on-farm\" activities; and how many were brought against the food supply industry.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3343", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Byford"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Byford"} ], "uin" : "HL6614"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47004", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/47004/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
Official statistics on the area of sugar beet used to produce biogas, or energy produced from UK sugar beet are not currently available. The data below shows the production of bioethanol from sugar beet and the land used.<\/p>
<\/p>
Year<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Bioethanol (million litres)<\/strong>1<\/p><\/td> Land used (thousand hectares)<\/strong>2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2010 \u2013 14 April 2011<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 68.5<\/p><\/td> 13.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2011 \u2013 14 April 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 21.8<\/p><\/td> 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2012 -14 April 2013<\/strong><\/p> (provisional) 3<\/p> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 59.9<\/p><\/td> 10.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> 1 All sugar beet volumes above were grown on previously cropped land<\/p> 2 Source: Defra June Survey of Agriculture. UK area at year n-1.<\/p> Year<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Bioethanol (million litres)<\/strong>1<\/p><\/td> Land used (thousand hectares)<\/strong>2<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2010 \u2013 14 April 2011<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 68.5<\/p><\/td> 13.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2011 \u2013 14 April 2012<\/strong><\/p><\/td> 21.8<\/p><\/td> 3<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 15 April 2012 -14 April 2013<\/strong><\/p> (provisional) 3<\/p> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 59.9<\/p><\/td> 10.4<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> 1 All sugar beet volumes above were grown on previously cropped land<\/p> 2 Source: Defra June Survey of Agriculture. UK area at year n-1.<\/p> |