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 when they plan to implement the recommendations of the Independent Reservoir Safety Report, published on 13 May 2021.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Many of the recommendations from the Independent Reservoir Safety Report have already been implemented – detail can be found here [see attached]. A public consultation on legislative reforms to take forward further recommendations from this report is planned in due course.
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 when they will bring forward the regulations to introduce the waste carriage, broker and dealer reforms as committed to in October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The commitment made in 2023 was under the previous Government. This Government published its policy paper on gov.uk in August 2025, setting out its plans for reform of the waste carrier broker dealer regime in England [see attached].
Work has begun to draft the necessary legislative amendments and will be progressed when parliamentary time allows.
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 whether they will introduce stricter liability for waste duty of care on large waste producing business.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government published its new Waste Crime Action Plan on 20 March which is the toughest ever crackdown on illegal waste. We have no plans to introduce a stricter liability for waste duty of care on large waste producing businesses. Businesses already have a duty to ensure their waste is lawfully managed and the Environment Agency (EA) will make full use of its powers to hold those responsible for illegal waste operations accountable. Additionally, the EA will now publicly name and shame illegal waste operators so that those working in the waste sector understand who has been involved in mishandling waste.
We are also introducing a mandatory digital waste tracking system. This will replace paper-based methods with a modern digital platform upon which details about waste movements will need to be recorded. This will provide environmental regulators with a single system to monitor waste movements in near real time, improving transparency and accountability.
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 when they will implement plans for a waste crime levy.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government published its new Waste Crime Action Plan on 20 March which is the toughest ever crackdown on illegal waste. We are now committing an additional £45 million for the Environment Agency (EA) to spend on waste crime enforcement over the next 3 financial years, on top of the £5.6 million increase for this financial year announced previously. This new funding will enable the EA to expand its on-the-ground enforcement activity and ensure waste criminals face the consequences of their actions. We continue to consider a waste crime levy to support enforcement but given the extra funding we are providing now, its introduction is not imminent.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to bring forward guidance on permitted development rights for on-farm reservoirs.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On-farm reservoirs which are necessary for agricultural purposes can be developed under a nationally set permitted development right. Guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/when-is-permission-required.
We intend to update the guidance in the coming months.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that e-bikes sold in the UK comply with the legal requirements for electrically assisted pedal cycles; and what enforcement action is being taken against the sale of non-compliant e-bikes.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency have market surveillance powers to tackle the supply of e-bikes where users are being deliberately misled about where they can and cannot be used.
According to the most recent data available (for 2024), the DVSA’s market surveillance programme identified 39 suppliers of e-bikes. 21 of these suppliers were found to be selling e-bikes that were compliant with the relevant Regulations.
Subsequent mystery shopper exercises, carried out by the DVSA and involving 18 suppliers, found 2 suppliers to be selling non-compliant e-bikes for use on the roads. One of these suppliers has since brought their selling practices into compliance while the other is being investigated further. In addition, over 400 listings of non-compliant e-bikes have been removed from online marketplaces following intervention by DVSA.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the unrestricted sale of e-scooters and e-bikes that do not meet the legal requirements for road use; and what steps they plan to take to prevent such vehicles entering circulation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
E-bikes and e-scooters must comply with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 to be placed on the UK market.
While it is not illegal to sell an e-scooter for use on private land, retailers are breaking the law if they knowingly mislead a buyer or do not make the legal restrictions on e-scooter use sufficiently clear. To provide a more proportionate and agile process for regulating e-scooters, the Government has committed to pursuing legislative reform when parliamentary time allows.
Regarding e-bikes, those that do not comply with the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle Regulations 1983 are treated as motor vehicles. They cannot therefore be legally used on the road unless they are approved and registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency, taxed and insured.
It is for the police to take enforcement action where such vehicles are used on the road illegally, and the Government will continue to support the police to ensure they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many penalties have been issued for driving with non-compliant number plates in each of the past three years; and what plans they have to strengthen enforcement.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government recognises the impact of number plate fraud and non- compliance, including the potential harm it can cause. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is committed to working with partners including the National Police Chiefs’ Council and other government departments to improve the identification and enforcement of number plate crime.
Information on the number of penalties issued for driving with non-compliant plates is not held by the DVLA. Penalties are typically issued as part of on-road enforcement by the police.
The government published its new Road Safety Strategy on 7 January, setting out its vision for a safer future on our roads for all. As part of this, the Department for Transport is reviewing motoring offences and has published a consultation which seeks views on the introduction of penalty points and vehicle seizure for the offence of being in charge of a motor vehicle with an incorrect/altered/false number plate. Following this consultation, consideration will be given to whether legislative changes are required.
The DVLA is also considering options to ensure a more robust, auditable Register of Number Plate Supplier process which would enable tighter checks on number plate suppliers. This includes reviewing the joining fee, scheme structure, resources, and funding.
DVLA enforcement officers also work with the police and Trading Standards to conduct compliance visits to number plate suppliers, inspecting practices and records as necessary.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to strengthen penalties for uninsured driving following the Road Safety Strategy consultation; and what their timetable is for implementation.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government published a consultation on motoring offences alongside the Road Safety Strategy on 7 January 2026. It is split into four sections, exploring drink and drug driving, non-seatbelt use, failure to stop and report, and introducing new penalties for certain offences and other road traffic matters, including whether the minimum penalties for driving without motor insurance should be increased.
Once the Motoring Offences Consultation concludes, we will confirm any changes to the policy on penalties for driving uninsured.
The timelines for bringing forward any changes, including those relating to uninsured driving, will then depend on legislative time.
Asked by: Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to motor insurance policyholders of compensating victims of collisions involving illegally used e-scooters and e-bikes; and what steps they are taking to address this.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has made no such assessment. The setting of premiums is a commercial decision for insurers, and the Government does not intervene or seek to control the market.