Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1109992

registered interest
date	05/04/2019
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	Gardens: 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 his Department and its agencies have made of the effect of residential gardens on biodiversity.
tabling member constituency	Southport
tabling member printed	Damien Moore
uin	241491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2019 answer text <p>There are a number of research studies that demonstrate the value of domestic gardens for wildlife. For example, a 2019 study led by the University of Bristol found that bees were more abundant in well managed gardens and allotments than most other urban land uses.</p><p> </p><p>Under the National Pollinator Strategy the Government works with research, voluntary and private sector partners to develop advice so that everyone can provide and manage nesting and feeding habitat for bees and other insects in their gardens, window boxes, allotments or community gardens. We promote this advice through the “Bees’ Needs” website and through the annual “Bees’ Needs Week” campaign to celebrate and encourage nationwide action.</p><p> </p><p>We are also addressing the needs of biodiversity in urban areas through plans to introduce a biodiversity net gain requirement. This will help to ensure that new developments include wildlife-friendly green spaces. The biodiversity metric that will be used to measure biodiversity net gain takes account of newly created gardens, so that this policy could help to incentivise the creation of gardens which have greater potential to become havens for local species.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to work in partnership with scientists and practitioners to review and improve the evidence base to inform our policy and we will be sharing examples of nature-friendly gardening during the 2019 Year of Green Action.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 12/04/2019 15:05:20 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4669 label Biography information for Damien Moore

1110024

registered interest
date	05/04/2019
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	Veterinary Services: Ombudsman
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 creating (a) an independent veterinary ombudsman and (b) a pet owner's charter.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	241413
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/04/2019 answer text <p>The Royal College of Veterinary Services (RCVS) is responsible for investigating any concerns about veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses. The Government is not aware that there is any reason to replace the RCVS with an alternative body.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of a pet owner’s charter, there are already statutory Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, Cats, Horses and Primates made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which provide owners and keepers with information on how to meet the welfare needs of these animals. We also advise anyone thinking of buying a puppy or kitten to take certain precautions, including checking whether the breeder is signed up to the Puppy Contract or meets the Kitten Check-List criteria which were developed by the Canine and Feline Sector Group (a group of animal welfare, veterinary, local authority and pet industry organisations). Prospective buyers can also check whether the breeder is licensed by the local authority by checking the licence number on any advertisement, which is a requirement of the new regulations on dog breeding.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 12/04/2019 14:17:22 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109731

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Air 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, whether his Department has reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act; and whether he has any plans to implement similar such legislation in the UK.
tabling member constituency	West Bromwich East
tabling member printed	Tom Watson
uin	240979
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>No, the Government has not reviewed the effectiveness of the German Federal Immission Control Act. The UK introduced a similar integrated approach to controlling pollution to air, water and land with the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as well as the concept of Best Available Techniques. These approaches have subsequently been adopted and applied across the EU through the Industrial Emissions Directive, which sets challenging industry standards for the most polluting industries.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:43:16 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1463 label Biography information for Lord Watson of Wyre Forest

1109739

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Agriculture: 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, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero emissions target for farming.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240986
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>There is no record of the Secretary of State having discussions with Cabinet colleagues on implementing a 2040 net zero target for farming.</p><p>In October 2018, Government commissioned advice on our long-term targets from our independent advisers, the Committee on Climate Change, including on the setting of a net zero target. We will consider their evidence-based advice carefully when it is received.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:13:42 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109741

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Cultural Heritage: Environment Protection
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 discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the exclusion of heritage from the Environment Bill.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240987
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Ministers and officials have regular meetings and discussions with colleagues from across Whitehall concerning the forthcoming Environment Bill.</p><p> </p><p>Heritage is not specifically excluded from the draft Environment Bill. The only policy areas explicitly and completely excluded from the definition of environmental law are listed in the draft Bill. Provisions of legislation on cultural heritage would fall under the definition if they are mainly concerned with one of the matters listed in relation to the natural environment. The definition of environmental law does not affect the content of the 25 Year Environment Plan. The framework for environmental principles to be established by the Environment Bill will also apply to policy on cultural heritage.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Bill will require Government to have a plan for improving the natural environment which will be subject to monitoring, annual reporting, and regular review and revision. The existing 25 Year Environment Plan, which will become the first such statutory plan, recognises the close relationship between heritage and the natural environment and it is expected that this will continue to be reflected in future revisions.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:53:00 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109743

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Soil: Environment Protection
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 including soil health in the indicator frameworks for environmental progress and in legally binding future targets.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240988
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Our recent consultation on an indicator framework for measuring progress against the 25 Year Environment Plan proposed inclusion of an indicator of healthy soils.</p><p> </p><p>The consultation document proposed measurements of soil properties which could be included in this indicator, however the full specification of this indicator will be developed when Defra research into innovative monitoring for soils completes at the end of 2019.</p><p> </p><p>We are considering the consultation responses as well as the outputs from a workshop of soil stakeholders. We will be publishing our updated, finalised indicator framework alongside the 25 Year Environment Plan annual review in due course.</p><p> </p><p>In December 2018, the Government confirmed that it was exploring options for including cross-cutting targets for environmental improvement as part of the broader governance framework being established through the Environment Bill. We would expect any targets to contribute to implementing the 25 Year Environment Plan goals.</p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:33:33 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109746

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Climate Change: Finance
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 ensure the adequacy of funding for natural climate solutions in relation to natural carbon sequestration.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
uin	240968
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of nature-based carbon sequestration and our ambitious 25 Year Environment Plan committed to leave the environment in a better state than we found it. Mitigating and adapting to climate change is essential if we are to meet this goal and the Government is taking action to deliver on this.</p><p> </p><p>Tree planting is one of the main contributors to nature-based carbon sequestration and the Government supports this in a number of ways, including the manifesto commitment to plant 11 million trees by 2022. We also have a long term aspiration to increase woodland cover from 10% to 12%. Additionally, in the Autumn Budget the Chancellor announced £50 million to help support the planting of new woodlands through the Woodland Carbon Guarantee.</p><p> </p><p>In relation to soil carbon sequestration and protection of existing soil carbon stores, our focus is on peatland restoration, both through Government funding and supporting private sector initiatives. For example, we are currently spending £10 million on four large scale peatland restoration projects across England.</p><p> </p><p>Under the new Environmental Land Management Scheme we will pay land managers public money for public goods, which includes mitigation of climate change. This could be delivered through land managers sequestering carbon by, for example, peatland restoration and tree planting.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 09/04/2019 15:58:33 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1109748

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Dangerous Dogs Act 1991
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 research his Department has commissioned in collaboration with Middlesex University will assess the effectiveness of Section 1 of (a) the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and (b) breed specific legislation.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	240989
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government response to the recent EFRA Committee report on dangerous dogs gives details of what the research project will consider which includes: a) The effectiveness of current dog control measures including the use of the powers provided to police and local authorities in 2014; b) Identifying and examining the risk factors and situations that may cause dog attacks, including whether any particular types of situation or domestic setting influence dog aggression and dog attacks and also how the risk factors relate to characteristics of the dog; how behavioural problems among dogs might best be addressed; and how policy might need to develop to deal with dog behavioural problems and c) How to promote responsible dog ownership and, in particular, to identify the additional help and information needed for dog owners who have experienced dog control issues or who are vulnerable to these (this includes evaluation of risk factors) to improve their responsible dog ownership. The research will not look specifically at issues relating section 1 of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and the prohibition on certain types of dog traditionally bred for fighting.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 11/04/2019 12:15:54 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1109770

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Seas and Oceans: Wind Power
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 his Department has made of the effect of consented offshore wind on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.
tabling member constituency	Redcar
tabling member printed	Anna Turley
uin	241059
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Consent is required from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to construct, extend or operate any offshore generating stations with a generating capacity of between 1 and 100 megawatts (MW). Stations which would generate more than 100MW are classed as <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-licensing-nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects" target="_blank">nationally significant infrastructure projects</a> and require a development consent order granted by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Some electricity generating works may be subject to regulation under the <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1927/contents/made" target="_blank">Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended)</a> and require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted to the MMO alongside the main application. EIAs are required to include a description of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment, including any effects on seabirds, marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, offshore wind farms are required to have pre and post consent monitoring plans which are managed by the MMO. For example, a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP) lists the appropriate mitigation measures that should be utilised during offshore activities that are likely to produce underwater noise and vibration levels capable of potentially causing injury and disturbance to marine mammals.</p><p> </p><p>Any environmental assessment, including EIAs and MMMPs, submitted as part of any application are available online via the <a href="https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/register-of-applications/" target="_blank">Planning Inspectorate’s national register of applications</a> and the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-marine-licence-register" target="_blank">MMO’s public register</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:38:24 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4449 label Biography information for Anna Turley

1109791

registered interest
date	04/04/2019
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	Fracking
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 ensure that the Government’s fracking proposals do not disrupt local wildlife and biodiversity.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	241060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2019 answer text <p>Statutory consultees including Natural England (NE) and the Environment Agency (EA) are consulted by the relevant Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) when a planning application for hydraulic fracturing development is received. NE is consulted if the proposed development is likely to affect a protected site (Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Area (SPA), Ramsar Wetland, or a potential SPA, possible SAC or a proposed Ramsar Wetland). NE has published ‘Impact Risk Zones’ which can be used to check if the planning proposal relates to land on or near a protected site. In addition MPAs will assess impacts on locally protected sites.</p><p> </p><p>MPAs use NE’s standing advice for protected species when reviewing planning applications and will contact NE if the matter is not covered by the advice. NE may need to issue European Protected Species Licences in certain circumstances. Developers are also encouraged to contact NE at pre-application stages to help ensure that their applications fully take account of potential impacts and that measures are put in place to avoid or mitigate those impacts as well as maximising opportunities for biodiversity.</p><p> </p><p>In applying to the EA for environmental permits, operators are also required to consider the effect that their activity may have on protected sites, habitats and species. Where any sites of heritage and nature conservation, or protected species and habitats are identified, they may need to consult other bodies such as NE and can enforce permit conditions to protect habitats.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Suffolk Coastal answering member printed Dr Thérèse Coffey question first answered 09/04/2019 14:49:09 answering member 4098 label Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes