Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker whether the pedestrian walkway that will be reinstated as part of the final full scaffolding build will enable peers to (1) use the pavement on the eastern side of Millbank and Abingdon Street, and (2) access the pedestrian walkway continuously from Black Rod’s Garden to about 40 meters south of Peers' Entrance; if not, why not; and what is the planned timescale for the completion of the full scaffolding build.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Once the pedestrian routes closed during the current phase of works to Victoria Tower are reinstated, they will enable peers and others to make full use of the pavement on the eastern side of Millbank and Abingdon Street and also access the permanent visitor and passholder entrances at Black Rod’s Garden entrance, which will reopen. The full scaffolding build is currently due to complete in mid-2028. However, we plan to reinstate pedestrian access well ahead of that, and subject to the necessary enabling works and gantry installation being delivered on schedule, this is currently expected to be possible in the second quarter of 2027.

Question

To ask The Senior Deputy Speaker what action will be taken to clear blockages by tour groups and others from the pavement at the pedestrian lights and Peers' Entrance to enable members to enter.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

In the event that pedestrian numbers were to become a risk to Members’ safety and ability to access Parliament, contingency arrangements are in place to ensure that Members can continue to enter and exit the estate in order to carry out their duties. Doorkeepers and Security Officers will continue to monitor the situation throughout the duration of the works.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that additional funding provided to the Environment Agency will support enforcement action on waste crime that is sufficient to act as a deterrent.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government has published its new Waste Crime Action Plan which is the toughest ever crackdown on illegal waste. In conjunction with this the Environment Agency (EA) has set out its ten-point plan to tackle waste crime. The additional funding being provided will support EA’s delivery of these measures, which together comprise a comprehensive Government response to the scourge of waste crime.

More information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/waste-crime-action-plan/waste-crime-action-plan and https://engageenvironmentagency.uk.engagementhq.com/waste-crime-stand-with-us-to-end-waste-crime. Copies are attached to this answer.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to evaluate the impact of additional Environment Agency funding on its ability to undertake effective enforcement action against waste crime.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency (EA) reports its performance every quarter through its published Corporate Scorecard. We are working with the EA to develop improved measures for the scorecard, as well as considering an evaluation approach for the package of measures recently announced in the government’s Waste Crime Action Plan.

The EA is also looking at technology-based opportunities to measure levels of waste crime, such as the potential to use satellite technology and machine learning. This will improve the EA’s insights and business intelligence to inform its strategic approach and prioritisation.