Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of the Environment Agency to the regular maintenance of major rivers and water courses; and what assessment they have made of whether any lack of maintenance has contributed to recent flooding.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
There are around 238,000 assets registered by the Environment Agency that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England, including 76,000 assets owned and maintained directly by the Environment Agency, plus approximately 162,000 assets owned by other parties including Risk Management Authorities and Private owners. Of these, 64,000 are classified by the Environment Agency as high consequence system assets – meaning those which provide the greatest level of protection to people and property. Assets are used to maintain major rivers and water courses.
The Environment Agency regularly inspects over 154,000 assets that have a flood or coastal risk management purpose in England whether owned and maintained by the Environment Agency or other Risk Management Authorities or private individuals.
The Environment Agency is currently inspecting assets impacted by Storms Babet and Ciaran. The Environment Agency estimate 2,300 properties flooded during these recent storms, with 139,000 properties better protected by flood and coastal risk management schemes.
As of October 2023, (prior to the recent Storm Babet and Ciaran), the number of Environment Agency assets that were at or above the required condition in a high consequence Risk Management System was 94.5%. For assets owned or maintained by other parties this was 90%.
A high consequence system is a location where there is a high concentration of properties. Flood risk is reduced by several flood defences working together to protect an area. Where assets are below their required condition this identifies that work is required. This does not mean assets have structurally failed or that performance in a flood is compromised.
The Environment Agency publishes details of planned maintenance activities in the river and coastal maintenance programme, and further details can also be found in the Flood and coastal erosion risk management annual report (see attached).
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether slumps in embankments in rural areas contributed to recent flooding events; and what steps they are taking to ensure embankment slumps are repaired.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Environment Agency works closely with other Risk Management Authorities such as local authorities and Internal Drainage Boards to manage flood risk.
The Environment Agency maintains over 7,300km of embankments. In the last two years about 25% of the resource allocation from Flood Defence Grant in Aid was spent on maintaining our embankments.
The Environment Agency has been inspecting assets that may have been impacted by recent storms Babet and Ciaran. Over 2,200 inspections have been undertaken by Environment Agency inspectors and supply chain partners to date. Some assets are still not accessible due to ongoing high-water levels, and to get a full picture on the range of impacts may take a few weeks.
If the performance of an asset is reduced, then action will be taken to ensure that flood risk continues to be effectively managed until the asset meets the required condition.
The Environment Agency continues to have people on the ground supporting local communities and inspecting flood defence assets, and where required is developing plans based on the level of risk to return assets to their required condition.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government under what circumstances office properties which have been empty for six months or longer will be considered for change of use to qualify for conversion to residential homes.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
A national permitted development right (Class MA) provides for the change of use to residential of offices that have been vacant for a continuous period of at least three months. The permitted development right is subject to prior approval by the local planning authority in respect of particular planning matters, such as flooding and transport, and various limitations. Full details of the permitted development right are set out in legislation: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015, as amended.
A planning application is required for any change of use from an office to residential use that falls outside of the scope of the permitted development right, or where the right has been removed by the local planning authority by making an Article 4 direction. Any planning application will be determined in accordance with the local plan and other material considerations.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there are any circumstances in which a residential home would be considered as empty where the resident has been unable to sell or is long-term sick and hospitalised.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Properties being sold are not eligible for empty dwellings management orders (EDMOs), nor are the homes of people away from home because they are being cared for in hospital or elsewhere. The full exemptions to EDMOs are set out in guidance available on the Government website and set out a balanced approach between giving local authorities appropriate powers to bring empty homes into use and protecting home owners whose properties may be empty for a period due to personal circumstances.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a register for empty properties.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what checks are carried out on animal and plant products at UK borders; and what quarantine arrangements are in place for potentially infected products.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Checks are currently carried out on products of animal origin (POAO) and plant and plant products (P&PP) arriving in GB from outside of the EU, and on live animals and high-risk P&PP imports from the EU. The Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) will deliver a new sanitary and phytosanitary regime applicable to all imports to GB with changes starting from January 2024. Under BTOM, controls will be risk-based and calibrated to the specific commodity and country of origin. Additional physical controls on certain EU imports will be conducted at Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points (CPs) on a risk basis from April 2024. BCP and CP specifications vary according to the type of commodities received. BCPs and CPs contain suitable facilities for containing non-compliant consignments.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increasing number of dog attacks on (1) other animals, and (2) people; and what plans they have to (a) review, and (b) amend, the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 to add new breeds in view of these increasing attacks.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We recognise dog attacks can have horrific consequences and we take this issue very seriously. The Government is taking urgent action to bring forward a ban on XL Bully dog types following a concerning rise in attacks and fatalities, which appear to be driven by this type of dog. We intend to have the legislation in place to deliver this ban by the end of the year.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on farmers of delays to Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) payments; and what plans they have to rectify the delay.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has no plans to pause the phasing out of Basic Payment Scheme payments.
Our priority is to roll out Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in a way that ensures the service works as straightforwardly as possible for all our customers and aligns with the closing date for Countryside Stewardship.
The SFI 2023 scheme has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmers’ feedback. There are 23 actions on offer under the new and improved 2023 scheme, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland.
The scheme will open for applications from 18 September. Before then farmers can contact the Rural Payments Agency to join the thousands of farm businesses that have already expressed their interest in applying.
Recently, we have run an extensive communications and engagement programme with farmers and farming organisations, including through webinars and our presence at agricultural shows. This has enabled us to promote the options available to farmers and feedback is of increased awareness and interest in what is on offer.
Information on the scheme is available in one handbook and on 10 August we published voluntary ‘How to Guidance’ which farmers can follow if helpful for them. We know that applicants to date have welcomed the simple, automated online application process which again will support uptake in the coming months.
We know the importance of getting agreements and payments out as quickly as possible, which is why we’ll be working to get as many people as possible on board as quickly as possible after 18 September. What is more, in recognition of the challenges faced with inflation and rising input costs, the Government has confirmed farmers will receive a payment in the first month of their SFI 2023 agreement to help with cashflow.
We remain committed to our target of 70% of farms and farmland being in schemes by 2028.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to pause the phasing out of existing farm payments until Sustainable Farming Incentive payments are in place.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government has no plans to pause the phasing out of Basic Payment Scheme payments.
Our priority is to roll out Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in a way that ensures the service works as straightforwardly as possible for all our customers and aligns with the closing date for Countryside Stewardship.
The SFI 2023 scheme has been expanded and made more flexible in response to farmers’ feedback. There are 23 actions on offer under the new and improved 2023 scheme, including on soil health, moorland, hedgerows, integrated pest management, farmland wildlife, buffer strips, and low input grassland.
The scheme will open for applications from 18 September. Before then farmers can contact the Rural Payments Agency to join the thousands of farm businesses that have already expressed their interest in applying.
Recently, we have run an extensive communications and engagement programme with farmers and farming organisations, including through webinars and our presence at agricultural shows. This has enabled us to promote the options available to farmers and feedback is of increased awareness and interest in what is on offer.
Information on the scheme is available in one handbook and on 10 August we published voluntary ‘How to Guidance’ which farmers can follow if helpful for them. We know that applicants to date have welcomed the simple, automated online application process which again will support uptake in the coming months.
We know the importance of getting agreements and payments out as quickly as possible, which is why we’ll be working to get as many people as possible on board as quickly as possible after 18 September. What is more, in recognition of the challenges faced with inflation and rising input costs, the Government has confirmed farmers will receive a payment in the first month of their SFI 2023 agreement to help with cashflow.
We remain committed to our target of 70% of farms and farmland being in schemes by 2028.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government why a qualified veterinary surgeon must sign off each consignment of Quorn for export to the EU, given that that product contains no meat or dairy content.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Quorn products containing no animal component would not require an export health certificate (EHC) for import into the EU.
Quorn products that contain egg-based ingredients will require an EHC for entry into the EU. EU law (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692) requires imports of animal products including products containing egg or egg product to be accompanied by an EU EHC that must be signed by an official veterinarian of the competent authority of the exporting third country, guaranteeing that the conditions for entry into the EU have been met.