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Written Question
Biodiversity: Romford
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help reverse biodiversity loss in Romford constituency.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In England, we have set four legally binding targets for biodiversity. We have legislated to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 and to reverse species decline by 2042; to reduce the risk of species extinction; and to restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitats. These targets will drive actions to support biodiversity in Romford and every other area across England.

We have set out our plan to deliver on these ambitious targets, along with our other environmental targets, in the Environmental Improvement Plan published 31 January 2023. Here we link the different objectives, plans and mechanisms for recovering nature.

Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS) are being prepared across the whole of England to support delivery of the targets. The 48 strategies are bringing together local partners to agree priorities and propose practical actions in areas where they would have the most benefit for nature recovery and the wider environment. The Romford constituency is within the Greater London LNRS area. Preparation of the strategy is being led by the Greater London Authority, with support from the local planning authorities in the area, including Havering Borough Council, which serves the Romford constituency.

The Environment Agency is working with partners to improve the water quality and biodiversity of waterbodies within the constituency of Romford. The agency created a backwater on the side of the main channel of the river Rom as a fish refuge. This has benefitted fish populations and improved the wider river corridor for biodiversity by creating a varied mosaic of habitats. The agency also part funded a multi-partnership project to deliver river enhancement and restoration works to the River Rom and is currently looking at a potential project that would address issues impacting the River Ravensbourne at Harrow Lodge Park.


Written Question
Veterinary Medicine: Nurses
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to provide legal protection for the title of veterinary nurse.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra recognises the important work carried out by veterinary nurses across the country, and the legal protection of the title is part of the ongoing consideration of legislative actions. Suitably qualified practitioners can sign up to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ register of veterinary nurses, which holds around 19,000 currently. Defra officials continue to work with stakeholders across the sector on possible avenues for legislative reform and will explore the inclusion of protection of the title within any future reforms, when parliamentary time allows.


Written Question
Veterinary Medicine: Regulation
Monday 18th March 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to introduce a new regulatory framework for veterinary practices.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, which regulates the veterinary sector, runs a voluntary Practice Standards Scheme to encourage veterinary practices to meet the highest standards of veterinary care. Defra is aware of the potential benefits that legislative change could bring for the regulation of veterinary practices and is working with stakeholders to consider what this framework could look like.


Written Question
Meat: Labelling
Monday 12th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to undertake a consultation on the labelling of non-stun slaughter meat.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are no Regulations that require the labelling of non-stun slaughter meat, but where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer. The Government respects religious freedoms and expects the industry, whether food producer or food outlet, to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices.

As recently announced by the Secretary of State, we will soon be launching a consultation on clearer food labelling. This will include proposals to improve and extend current mandatory method of production labelling, including options for the production standards behind them. Our proposed standards initially focus on the period of time the animal spends on farm. We will seek views through consultation on these standards, including the period of life which they should cover.


Written Question
River Rom
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will take steps to support Havering Council in efforts to enhance the River Rom's (a) environmental health, (b) maintenance of river-based infrastructure and (c) development of projects aimed at increasing the vibrancy of the River Rom as a community resource.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November 2023 to PQ 1841 which outlines the work being carried out by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne Catchment Partnership, working with local partners including Havering and neighbouring local authorities. In addition, I refer to the answer given on 07 February 2024 to PQ 11011 outlining Environment Agency funding for maintenance on the river Rom in the past three years.


Written Question
River Rom
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what funding his Department has provided for the maintenance of the River Rom in each of the last three years.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Environment Agency’s records relating to maintenance funding on main rivers are set out per financial year, which runs from 1 April – 31 March. The Environment Agency has spent the following on maintenance for the River Rom and Black’s Brook (which feeds into the Rom) in the past 3 years (to the nearest whole figure):

2021 - 2022: £93,350

2022 - 2023: £74,430

2023 - 2024: £52,550 (expected cost as financial year not yet complete).

This includes a variety of works including vegetation management, operational checks on flood defence assets, treatment of invasive non-native species, bridge inspections, and inspection and maintenance of public safety measures.

These figures will not include any expenditure on maintenance carried out as part of the Environment Agency’s incident response activities as the financial data for this is not held for each river.


Written Question
Environment Agency: Flood Control
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has had recent discussions with the Environment Agency on increasing the number of flood defence projects.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The Government announced in March 2020 a record £5.2 billion investment over 6 years in flood and coastal erosion schemes to better protect communities across England. Since April 2021, over £1.5 billion has been invested in flood defence projects across the country and over 67,000 properties have been better protected from flooding through over 200 completed schemes (as of September 2023).

The programme of schemes that make up the current investment programme is reviewed and refreshed annually as projects progress. This allows for flexibility to manage change and introduce new schemes or urgent works if necessary. Ministers are working with the Environment Agency to review the programme in the light of the impacts of inflation. More information will be available in due course.


Written Question
Storms: Emergencies
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to work with relevant authorities in improving storm resilience and recovery efforts in (a) England and (b) Romford constituency.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Creating climate resilient places lies at the heart of the EA’s National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England (FCERM Strategy) and Roadmap to 2026.

(a) There is close working across Government, including partner agencies such as the Met Office and the Environment Agency (EA), to monitor the risk from flooding. The Government-funded Flood Forecasting Centre provides a daily five-day flood forecast and informs National and Local operational flood readiness, allowing early warning and multi-agency coordinated response.

The Environment Agency works with partners, including local authorities, as part of Local Resilience Forums made up of all Emergency Responders. The Environment Agency is actively engaged in partnership working with the emergency services and the military to ensure resilience and a readiness to respond to all environmental emergencies, including flooding. This involves joint training exercises and the supply of equipment such as mobile pumps to prepare for flooding.

Following a flood event, Government departments and agencies conduct reviews of their response and coordination arrangements.

(b)The Environment Agency has a good working relationship with the London Borough of Havering, who are the Lead Local Flood Authority for the Romford area. They work with the Council to assist them to mitigate flood risk in the Borough. This includes assisting with the Council's capital programme to mitigate against flooding, working with them to update and maintain their various strategic and non-strategic flood risk management plans, attending local emergency planning forums, and assisting with spatial planning.

In addition to that the Environment Agency is supporting the Council in raising awareness of flood risk in the community and how local residents can protect themselves.

In the lead up to the Storm Henk the Environment Agency enhanced their duty rosters to have sufficient staff to respond to the incident and offer support to partners and the public if required.


Written Question
River Rom
Wednesday 7th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the condition of the River Rom.

Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The River Rom is part of the ‘Rom (Bourne Brook to Ravensbourne)’ water body. It is designated under the Water Framework Directive regulations as heavily modified and classified at Moderate Ecological Potential.

Water quality pressures are impacting on fish and invertebrates in the Rom. These pressures include sedimentation (from poor soil management and transport infrastructure) and run off from the urban environment. The heavily modified nature of the water body means that physical modifications (i.e. culverts and straightened channels) also impact these elements. The river is at risk of further deterioration due to the presence of non-native invasive species. The Environment Agency is reviewing their water resources assessment for this area but currently assess the flow in the river as supporting ‘Good’ ecological status.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November 2023 to PQ 1841 which outlines the work being carried out by the Environment Agency in liaison with the Roding, Beam and Ingrebourne Catchment Partnership; working with local partners to improve the water quality and biodiversity of waterbodies within Romford, including the Rom.

Nationally, the Government published the Plan for Water in April 2023 – our comprehensive strategy for managing our water environment, including our rivers. It brings together the significant steps we have already taken with a suite of new policy actions. It aims to change the way that we manage water, improve water quality, and continue to secure our water supply through increased investment, stronger regulation and enforcement.


Written Question
Birds of Prey: Conservation
Tuesday 6th February 2024

Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he has taken to work with relevant bodies to help protect the buzzard (a) nationally and (b) in Romford constituency.

Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

The UK buzzard population has shown significant recovery since the 1900s and can now be found across most of the UK. With 63,000 breeding pairs across the species, it is not considered of conservation concern. However, the species can still be a victim of persecution.

The Government takes wildlife crime seriously. Crime against birds of prey is a national wildlife crime priority and where any wild buzzard is killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to any proven perpetrators of the crime. Most wildlife crimes carry up to an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence.

Defra supports the work of Bird of Prey Crime Priority Delivery Group, which brings together police, government and stakeholders from conservation and country sports organisations to tackle bird of prey persecution. In 2022 Defra more than doubled its funding of the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) from a total of £495,000 over the three previous years to £1.2 million for the three-year period of 2022-25 to target wildlife crime priorities, in particular crimes against birds of prey. NWCU helps prevent and detect wildlife crime by obtaining and disseminating intelligence, undertaking analysis which highlights local or national threats and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations.