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1300143

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Hedgehogs: 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 he is taking to protect the UK's hedgehog population.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	164645
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2021 answer text <p>The Environment Bill contains measures that will help improve the status of threatened species, including by setting at least one biodiversity target in law, as well as strengthening the biodiversity duty on public authorities to take action to conserve and enhance biodiversity.</p><p>We are also taking action, through our net gain provisions in the Bill, to support the role of new development in helping protect and create the habitat that our native species, including hedgehogs, need to thrive.</p><p>We are working with stakeholders and end users to determine the specific actions that will be paid for under our new schemes that reward environmental land management. We will set out more details on this later this year. The Agricultural Transition Plan set out examples of the types of actions that we envisage paying for under the schemes, including creating, managing and restoring habitats such as woodland, heathland and species-rich grassland, which could all benefit species such as hedgehog.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 16/03/2021 13:02:35 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1300144

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2021
	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	Food: Production
	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 he has taken to help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions from food production in the run up to COP26.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	164646
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2021 answer text <p>Sustainable agriculture and land use are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and objectives of the Paris Agreement. The 2019 IPCC land-use report set out the critical role that sustainable land use must play in climate mitigation and building resilience. The COP26 Nature Campaign aims to raise the profile of this agenda, building on the Just Rural Transition launched at the UN Climate Action Summit and providing a platform to highlight actions that leading countries are taking to deliver change.</p><p> </p><p>Reaching our Net Zero target is one of this Government's top priorities. We know that this will be a challenge, requiring action across the economy. It will mean changes to the way land is managed to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. We will support the sector to make these changes through the schemes set out in the Agricultural Transition Plan.</p><p> </p><p>The Agricultural Transition Plan published on 30 November 2020 outlined how the Government will support farmers and land managers by investing the money freed up from phasing out direct payments to pay for improvements to the environment, improve animal health and welfare and reduce carbon emissions. Simultaneously, we need to protect and increase our carbon stores, increasing afforestation and peat restoration rates across England, whilst supporting the adaptiveness and resilience of these ecosystems to risks which may arise under a changing climate. Our new environmental land management schemes will help deliver on this and include the Sustainable Farming Incentive, a universal scheme open to all farmers, which will support sustainable approaches to farm husbandry to deliver for the environment, such as actions to improve soil health and water quality, enhance hedgerows and promote integrated pest management.</p><p> </p><p>We will also take steps to reduce emissions through our animal health and welfare schemes and transitional support schemes. For example, we will support action to identify and eliminate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, which raises greenhouse gas emissions from cattle. And we will provide grants towards the cost of equipment, technology and infrastructure that will improve farmers’ efficiency, benefiting the environment. These could include precision agriculture and low-emission nutrient application equipment.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 17/03/2021 12:16:47 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1308062

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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	Beverage Containers: Deposit Return 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, if his Department will assess the potential merits of implementing a deposit return scheme that includes containers of all sizes earlier than 2023.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	179615
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>The Government committed, in its 2019 manifesto, to introduce a deposit return scheme to incentivise people to recycle drinks containers.</p><p> </p><p>On 24 March we published our second consultation on implementing a deposit return scheme for drinks containers. Further details of the proposed deposit return scheme, including the size of drinks containers being considered as part of the scope of the scheme, are presented in this second consultation.</p><p> </p><p>Timelines have been reviewed to ensure we allow sufficient time for the roll out and implementation of a complex policy, and we therefore propose to implement the scheme in 2024, with views on this being taken in the consultation.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/04/2021 13:07:19 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1310607

	registered interest
	date	20/04/2021
	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	Rivers: Sewage
	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 discussions he has had with water companies on the discharging of raw sewage into English rivers.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	184560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/04/2021 answer text <p>Tackling the harm caused by sewer overflows is a top priority for this department.</p><p> </p><p>To achieve this, the new Storm Overflows Taskforce - bringing together Government, the water industry, regulators and environmental NGOs - has agreed to set a long-term goal to eliminate harm from storm overflows. The Taskforce is meeting regularly and working on plans to start making progress towards that goal, and they have commissioned research to gather evidence on the costs, benefits and feasibility of different options.</p><p> </p><p>We are also introducing new duties that will require the Government to publish a plan by September 2022 to reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows and to report progress to Parliament on implementing that plan. We are also introducing duties requiring water companies and the Environment Agency to publish data on storm overflow operations on an annual basis. These legally binding obligations on water companies and Government will reduce pollution in rivers, protecting wildlife and public health.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Secretary and the Environment Agency Chair have met with underperforming water companies to discuss how Government and industry can work together to drive better environmental performance. The Environment Secretary has set out clear expectations for water companies to improve their environmental performance in the future. I have also met water company CEOs and made clear that the volume of sewage discharged into rivers and other waterways in extreme weather must be reduced.</p><p> </p><p>Water companies are committed in the five-year business planning period (2020-25) to a significant programme of improvements to the monitoring and management of storm overflows at a cost of around £1.1 billion. This investment includes undertaking 800 investigations and 798 improvement schemes to provide environmental improvements by reducing spills from frequently spilling overflows.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to penalties and enforcement, the Environment Agency currently regulates water companies in their operation of storm overflows to ensure they only discharge under strict permitted conditions. Where discharges occur outside of these conditions, the Environment Agency investigates and takes appropriate action, which includes enforcement action if necessary.</p><p> </p><p>Environment Agency action has resulted in 48 prosecutions against water companies in the last six years, securing fines of £35 million. £10.4 million has also been donated to environmental and wildlife trusts organisations in the same period through enforcement undertakings, a voluntary agreement which will include a donation to environmental charities to restore any harm done. The Environment Agency will continue to take enforcement action against water companies which fail to uphold the law or cause serious environmental harm.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/04/2021 13:44:19 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1359567

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	Hunting Act 2004
	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 potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to amend the Hunting Act 2004 to prevent dogs from (a) seeking out, (b) injuring and (c) killing wild mammals.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	56640
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2021 answer text <p>The Hunting Act 2004 makes it an offence to hunt a wild mammal with dogs except where it is carried out in accordance with the exemptions in the Act, and completely bans hare coursing. The Government does not therefore see the need to review the Hunting Act 2004.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 20/10/2021 12:15:52 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1656935

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Climate Change: Inland Waterways
	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 potential impact of climate change on (a) inland waterways and (b) the costs of maintaining inland waterways.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Zarah Sultana
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	197225
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2023 answer text <p>Ministers do not have a role in operational matters on inland waterways, which rests with the navigation authorities that own and manage them. This includes having appropriate maintenance programmes in place to ensure public safety and resilience of their assets and infrastructure against the effects of climate change. Under the upcoming fourth round of climate adaptation reporting (ARP4), introduced under the Climate Change Act 2008, the Government will invite the Canal and River Trust (C&amp;RT) and the Environment Agency to report on their canal and river activities.</p><p> </p><p>On 10 July the Government announced a very substantial grant of over £400 million new funding for the C&amp;RT between 2027 and 2037. This is a significant sum of money and a sign of the importance that we place on our inland waterways. It will provide the C&amp;RT with certainty about the level of Government grant funding for its future business planning and continue to support the C&amp;RT to maintain its canal network.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 21/09/2023 12:56:59 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	4786 label Biography information for Zarah Sultana

1303963

	registered interest
	date	18/03/2021
	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	Flood Control: Greater Manchester
	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 the Government will make additional funding available for flood defences in Prestolee and Stoneclough.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	171556
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2021 answer text <p>Starting from 2021, the Government will invest £5.2 billion in a six-year capital investment programme for flood and coastal erosion risk management to build around 2,000 new flood defences. This investment will better protect 336,000 properties, including 290,000 homes, from flooding and coastal erosion by 2027.</p><p> </p><p>Defra provides the majority of its funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management to the Environment Agency as Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid (FDGiA). The Environment Agency spends this funding directly on FCERM, but also passes some on as grants to Local Authorities or Internal Drainage Boards</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The proposed Prestolee and Stoneclough flood scheme will protect approximately 80 homes in the community of Prestolee, with the total cost of the scheme estimated to be £3 million - £4.5 million. The scheme is currently eligible for £1.47 million of Defra FDGiA, of which £250,000 has already been awarded for 2020/21 following a successful FDGiA acceleration bid. This has allowed the scheme to progress to Outline Business Case stage.</p><p> </p><p>Funding for all projects are allocated according to the rules that govern Defra’s existing six-year capital programme and in accordance with the Partnership Funding Policy. The Partnership Funding policy clarifies the level of investment communities can expect from Defra so it is clear what level of funding they need source from other sources to allow projects to go ahead.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 26/03/2021 12:08:30 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1437162

	registered interest
	date	01/03/2022
	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	Property: Bolton South East
	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 the residents of Riverside Drive in Stoneclough in Bolton South East constituency have had their priority status downgraded by the Environment Agency.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	132232
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>No, despite challenges that have arisen in the delivery of the project, this scheme retains its High Priority rating.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 07/03/2022 17:35:33 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1438866

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2022
	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	Property: Bolton South East
	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 Answer of 7 March 2022 to Question 132232, on Property: Bolton South East, what the challenges are that have arisen in the delivery of the project.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	136540
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>Over the last 18 months several design challenges have arisen including space for construction, ground conditions and level of bedrock. Last week the Environment Agency (EA) wrote to the community to explain these challenges and to be clear that there may be an impact on programme and delivery of a flood risk scheme within the discussed timescales. The EA is committed to working towards finding both a technical solution and to maintain an open and honest relationship with the community. The EA is working with partners to strive to ensure that any funding gap is removed so that a construction contract can be awarded.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has a close working relationship with the local Flood Action Group and has held meetings to provide updates and take questions. The EA, in co-operation with partners United Utilities and Bolton Council, has completed interim measures such as installation of non-return valves on the surface water system and filling-in of low spots.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 14/03/2022 15:53:42 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi

1472460

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2022
	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	Flood Control: Bolton South East
	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 progress has been made on the Riverside Drive project in Bolton South East constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Bolton South East
	tabling member printed	Yasmin Qureshi
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	23256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/06/2022 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) and its consultants remain committed to understanding how flood risk can be most effectively managed in the communities of Prestolee and Stonecloug. The EA continues to work towards developing a preferred option. Engineering challenges regarding ground conditions, proximity of houses to bank top and any potential future flood wall have meant that the design process has unfortunately taken longer than expected.</p><p> </p><p>The EA has recently undertaken further modelling works and finalised the ground investigation report which has provided a better understanding of the ground conditions in the area. Using this information, the EA is continuing to work with its consultants and contractors to develop a constructible and affordable solution. Consultants have also recently conducted a number of environmental surveys at the site including a Biodiversity Net Gain baseline survey.</p> answering member constituency Taunton Deane answering member printed Rebecca Pow question first answered 29/06/2022 15:46:05 answering member 4522 label Biography information for Rebecca Pow
	tabling member	3924 label Biography information for Yasmin Qureshi