Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the charity sector on reducing the use of single-use plastic bags in door-to-door collections.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government has not had any discussions with the charity sector on reducing the use of single use plastic bags in door to door collections.
Following a public consultation last year, the Fundraising Regulator has strengthened its Code of Practice, which requires charitable house to house collectors not to post collection bags to properties that indicate they do not wish to receive them, thus reducing the distribution of unwanted charity collection bags.
Charity textile collections offer a convenient way for people to reduce their environmental impact and contribute to the 650,000 tonnes of clothing reused or recycled which might otherwise be sent to landfill, while also benefiting charitable causes.
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of water companies that require consumers to pay bills up to a year in advance; and how that practice compares to other utility markets.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
We have not made an estimate of the number of water companies that require consumers to pay bills up to a year in advance. We have also not compared such a practice to other utility markets.
Water companies use a variety of billing, payment and collection methods and can be flexible in their billing arrangements. However, they must be set within Ofwat’s (the independent water regulator) charging rules and guidelines. These rules include a requirement that companies give customers a reasonable choice as to the times and methods of payment of their charges. Customers should contact their water company to discuss their payment plan and the billing options they have.
All companies offer a range of support to those household customers who may be struggling to pay their bill, including social tariffs, customer assistance funds, payment plans and information about water efficiency advice and products. Information is available on their websites or from the Consumer Council for Water.
For business and other non-household customers who receive their water and wastewater services from a retailer, it is for individual retailers to decide which billing and collection methods they use. Retailers must comply with codes set by Ofwat and must inform customers of the type, frequency of bills and payment methods available. Business customers can discuss payment plans with their retail provider and can explore switching to another provider who may be more flexible with their billing arrangements. Not all retail providers will require payment in advance. Information about the business retail market can be found at https://www.open-water.org.uk/
Asked by: Alex Chalk (Conservative - Cheltenham)
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 has made an assessment of the effect on the bee population of using Sulfoxaflor and Flupyradifurone as alternatives to Neonicotinoids.
Answered by George Eustice
Insecticides are only permitted for use if scientific risk assessments find no harmful effect on people and no unacceptable effects on the environment. Assessment and decision making for active substances takes place at EU level and sulfoxaflor and flupyradifurone were approved in 2015. Products containing approved active substances can only be used if authorised by the UK. No authorisation has been given to date for any product containing sulfoxaflor or flupyradifurone. The assessment of any application for such a product would include full consideration of the potential effects on bees.