Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
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 potential merits of introducing a Natural Flood Management accreditation scheme to set standards for best practice.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
In summer 2023, the Environment Agency surveyed Natural Flood Management (NFM) practitioners on their skills and training needs. The survey told us that only 6% of respondents considered accreditation to be “extremely important,” but there was no consensus on where accreditation is required or who is best placed to provide it. The survey data told us there was more demand for NFM training to count towards Continued Professional Development (CPD) credits rather than accreditation. There was no consensus on who is best place to award these CPD credits. The survey concluded that course content and the way courses are delivered are more important to respondents than accreditation or CPD credits.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
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 has taken to ensure the interoperability of deposit return schemes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Consultations on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers were held in 2019 and 2021, with the final consultation response published in January 2023. These consultations applied to England, Wales and NI.
In May 2023, UK Government published a position statement setting out that DRSs across the UK should be interoperable to reduce complexity for businesses and consumers, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations on the next steps to deliver schemes that work together across the UK. We aim to publish a joint update in early 2024.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on establishing a deposit return scheme.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Consultations on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers were held in 2019 and 2021, with the final consultation response published in January 2023. These consultations applied to England, Wales and NI.
In May 2023, UK Government published a position statement setting out that DRSs across the UK should be interoperable to reduce complexity for businesses and consumers, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations on the next steps to deliver schemes that work together across the UK. We aim to publish a joint update in early 2024.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to appoint an independent administrator for a deposit return scheme.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Consultations on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers were held in 2019 and 2021, with the final consultation response published in January 2023. These consultations applied to England, Wales and NI.
In May 2023, UK Government published a position statement setting out that DRSs across the UK should be interoperable to reduce complexity for businesses and consumers, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations on the next steps to deliver schemes that work together across the UK. We aim to publish a joint update in early 2024.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on ensuring the interoperability of deposit return schemes.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Consultations on introducing a deposit return scheme (DRS) for single-use drinks containers were held in 2019 and 2021, with the final consultation response published in January 2023. These consultations applied to England, Wales and NI.
In May 2023, UK Government published a position statement setting out that DRSs across the UK should be interoperable to reduce complexity for businesses and consumers, and to avoid unnecessary barriers to trade. Defra is working closely with devolved administrations on the next steps to deliver schemes that work together across the UK. We aim to publish a joint update in early 2024.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
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 potential merits of ring-fencing funding within the Flood Defence Grant-in-Aid scheme for natural flood management.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government is investing a record £5.2 billion in the floods capital programme. Funding is allocated where the risk is highest and the benefits are greatest.
Natural Flood Management (NFM) is an integral part of the programme with both standalone NFM projects as well as conventional projects including NFM measures.
In September 2023, the Government announced a ring-fenced £25 million fund for improving flood resilience through NFM. Successful projects will be announced early this year.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
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 is taking steps to (a) produce centralised guidance and (b) provide training for (i) land managers, (ii) planning authorities and (iii) practitioners on how to create and manage wetlands for flood resilience.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Shadow Minister (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Natural flood management (NFM) is a key part of our approach. As you mention, we acknowledge the vital role that wetlands can play as part of the suite of NFM measures, both in reducing flood risk and in delivering multiple other benefits.
We advocate the need for centralised NFM guidance and training that is relevant to all landscapes, including wetlands. The Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) NFM Manual provides a step-by-step guide to natural flood management from identification through to implementation for a range of NFM measures. Wetlands are primarily covered in chapter 12 on floodplain reconnection.
In summer 2023, the Environment Agency surveyed NFM practitioners on their skills and training needs. The Environment Agency is now exploring training options.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were refused a cattle passport in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. In the time available we are not able to provide information on how many cattle passports were refused in each of the last five years. However, as of 11 January 2024 the number of animals in GB currently alive and issued with a CPP35 – Notice of Registration (Refused Passport) is 13,075.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many cattle were (a) DNA tested and (b) refused a cattle passport in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. The total number of DNA appeals received by the Rural Payments Agency is given in the table below. In the time available we are not able to establish the number of cattle and the number of Passports refused following a DNA appeal being unsuccessful.
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
DNA Appeals Received | 736 | 590 | 506 | 466 | 479 |
Between 2019 and 2021 the data provided is for GB. From 2021 the data does not include appeals made in Scotland.
Asked by: Bill Wiggin (Conservative - North Herefordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people appealed against decisions made by the Rural Payments Agency on the passporting of cattle in each of the last five years.
Answered by Mark Spencer
The Rural Payments Agency registers in the region of 2.5 million cattle every year. The total number of appeals made is given in the table below.
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
Appeals Received | 878 | 1173 | 1044 | 809 | 839 |
Between 2019 and 2021 the data provided is for GB. From 2021 the data does not include appeals made in Scotland.