Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of prioritising sustainable aviation fuel when securing non-recyclable municipal solid waste as a feedstock, in the context of the number of available near-term options for decarbonising the aviation sector.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government confirmed that a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) mandate would be introduced in 2025 requiring at least 10% (around 1.5 billion litres) of jet fuel to be made from sustainable feedstocks by 2030. Recycled carbon fuels such as non-recyclable municipal solid waste have the potential to become a key feedstock for UK produced SAF, and supporting them via the SAF mandate will broaden the existing feedstock pool. This is consistent with the Government’s approach to waste policy as guided by the waste hierarchy, where the best environmental outcome for waste that cannot be either prevented or prepared for reuse is for material to be recycled. Where waste cannot be prevented, reused or recycled, the Government supports maximising the value of residual waste through recovering energy, including supplying electricity or heat, or through use as, or conversion into, a fuel. There are a range of recovery options - both established and emerging - available to waste handling operators, which will be selected according to market conditions and local needs, taking account of the waste hierarchy and the need to ensure the best available environmental outcome for the waste. There is nothing preventing the production of fuel from residual waste if this is determined, by local authorities or other waste handlers, to be the best overall value for money and environmental outcome for such waste.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
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 implementing a three-month trial for planned border control posts from 30 April 2024 that enables the operation of a dual BCP and place of destination inspection system.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is committed to implementing the full controls set out in the Border Target Operating Model, including physical inspections at Border Control Posts (BCPs) and Control Points (CPs).
The Place of Destination (PoD) scheme was introduced as a temporary measure to enable the performance of checks on EU imports of high-priority plants and plant products during the transitional stages of introducing new imports controls. From 30 April 2024, the POD scheme will come to an end and all regulated plants and plant products must come through a BCP or CP for identity and physical checks to be carried out.
BCPs and CPs are purpose built for SPS checks and staffed by experienced and knowledgeable Plant Health & Seed Inspectors. They are essential to protecting our food supply-chains and agricultural sector from disease outbreaks that would cause significant economic harm.
Defra is confident that existing and new BCP infrastructure will have sufficient capacity and capability to handle the volume of expected checks outlines in the Border Target Operating Model, with robust, dynamic, and effective operational measures ready to call upon if needed. Defra is working with existing BCPs to ensure they are prepared, and the Government has built new infrastructure at critical locations.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December to Question 97784, on Sewers: Waste Disposal, if she will take steps to require developers to pay for sewer upgrades to offset any potential impact of developments on (a) water quality and (b) flood risk.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government already has a process in place to ensure developers offset their impact on water quality in sites protected under the Habitats Regulations 2017. Through a Habitats Regulations Assessment, developers must mitigate the impact of all plans and projects that have the potential to adversely impact such sites due to nutrient pollution. This includes impacts on water quality.
In addition, the review for making sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) mandatory in new developments in England was published on 10 January 2023. The Government has accepted the review’s recommendations and will now look at how best to implement. Fewer new connections to sewers through introducing more SuDS will reduce the pressures on the sewers, reducing surface water and sewer flood risk, discharges from storm overflows and pollution.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November to Question 89857 on Sewers: Waste Disposal, whether her Department is taking steps to make developers pay for sewer upgrades required to offset the potential impact of proposed developments on (a) water quality and (b) flood risk.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The review of the implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 is considering the impact of developments on water quality and flood risk.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of a developer's right to connect to sewers on the volume of sewer overflow discharges.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In August 2021 the Government announced a review of the implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. If implemented, this schedule makes connection to public sewers conditional of approval that the drainage system meets the national standards. These standards will ensure the most effective drainage system is delivered that will help to alleviate pressures on the sewer network, reduce flood risk, as well as improve water quality, amenity, biodiversity, and harvest rainwater. We have been working on this review and will confirm the outcomes in due course.
This would apply to England only.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the joint statement by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and other rural organisations requesting a five year transition away from the use of lead ammunition in game shooting; what assessment he has made of the potential merits of such a transition period; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We welcome the joint statement made in 2020 by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and other rural organisations requesting a transition away from lead and confirming their commitment to ensuring a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between shooting and conservation.
In Spring 2021, Defra asked the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA) to prepare a UK REACH restriction dossier for lead in ammunition. In producing the dossier, both organisations considered the evidence of risk posed by lead in ammunition on human health and the environment, and therefore, the case for phasing out most uses of lead in ammunition, including potential derogations for use in strictly controlled environments such as target shooting, where control measures are in place. HSE published the dossier on 6 May 2022 and a consultation is currently open until 6 November 2022.
Following this, HSE will finalise its opinion and the final decision for any restriction will be made by the Secretary of State, with the consent of Welsh and Scottish Ministers. It is expected that the full process will take approximately two years (from Spring 2021).
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2022 to Question 22466, what her planned timescale is for identifying how best the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 could be updated.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
There are many potential benefits associated with updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and, including the possibility of allowing allied professionals to work as part of a vet led team, providing a modern regulatory framework for the profession and enabling greater participation in the profession. We are currently considering the proposals. Further, creating new or amending existing veterinary legislation will be a significant undertaking and subject to Parliamentary time. As such, Defra is unable to provide an indicative timescale at present.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2022 to Question 22466, what potential benefits her Department has identified from an updating of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
There are many potential benefits associated with updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and, including the possibility of allowing allied professionals to work as part of a vet led team, providing a modern regulatory framework for the profession and enabling greater participation in the profession. We are currently considering the proposals. Further, creating new or amending existing veterinary legislation will be a significant undertaking and subject to Parliamentary time. As such, Defra is unable to provide an indicative timescale at present.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on reforming the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, entitled Recommendations for future veterinary legislation, published on 13 October 2021.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Defra is grateful to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for their proposal to reform the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Defra officials are reviewing the proposals. I recognise the potential benefits associated with changes to the Act and my officials have been engaging with the RCVS and the sector more widely on how the Act could best be updated.
Asked by: Alan Brown (Scottish National Party - Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 September 2021 to Question 51897, whether the Government has agreed terms of reference for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons review of the disciplinary framework and fitness to practice regime.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) recently carried out a root-and-branch review of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (last reviewed in 2008) and the role of the RCVS as the veterinary regulator, with the aim of ensuring public protection, animal health and welfare and regulatory best practice. The terms of reference were not set by or agreed with the Government. The review aimed to design a modern, fit for purpose framework comparable to other professional regulators, including a modern fitness to practice regime. The RCVS provided its recommendations to Defra Ministers in September 2021. Defra Ministers are considering these recommendations and welcome the content and consideration provided by the RCVS.