Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the impact of flooding on sewage overflows.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The recent heavy and intense rainfall has shown how storms can overwhelm both drainage and sewerage networks leading to sewage overflows and / or to flooding of roads and properties. To improve the future capacity of the sewer network the Environment Agency, Water UK and Ofwat have worked with risk management authorities to inform water company Drainage and Wastewater Management Plans. These plans will help improve resilience to surface water and drainage flood risks and play an important part in eliminating harm from storm overflows.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she has taken to help reduce surface water flooding since 25 October 2022.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Surface water flooding is localised and complex and is the responsibility of lead local flood authorities (LLFAs) to manage and mitigate. They do this in partnership with highways authorities and water companies. It is for LLFAs to determine the best approach to mitigating the risk.
The Government is also taking action. On 10 January 2023 Government published the review of making sustainable drainage systems mandatory in new developments through the implementation of Schedule 3 to the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. Sustainable drainage uses features such as ponds and grass to absorb the rain and tanks and pipes to slow the flow, reducing the risk of surface water flooding. Government accepted the recommendation Schedule 3 is implemented and will now consider scope, threshold and process. There will be a public consultation later this year, with implementation expected during 2024.
In July 2021 we restated our commitment to ensuring surface water flood risk is tackled and published a progress update on our Surface Water Management Action Plan and our response to the independent review into surface water and drainage responsibilities. Progress is being made on these through:
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 that UK food standards are maintained at their current level after the end of the transition period.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government has been clear that in all trade negotiations we will not compromise on our high environmental protection, animal welfare and food standards.
Legal protections for our standards will remain in place after the end of the transition period. The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 retains our standards on environmental protection, animal welfare, animal and plant health and food safety. This provides a firm basis for maintaining the same high level of protection for both domestic and imported products.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many data breaches his Department has reported to the Information Commissioner in each of the last five years.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
There were no data breaches reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in all years except for the financial year 2018-19. In 2018-19, 11 personal data incidents were deemed sufficiently high risk to report to ICO, in line with the new data protection legislation introduced in May 2018.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of water companies on ending the practice of overflow raw sewage being pumped into rivers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Combined sewer systems which collect waste water and rain water run-off account for the majority of sewerage systems in England. Such systems have a finite capacity and can be temporarily overwhelmed by significant rainfall. Sewer overflows are a feature of these systems and are designed to act as a safety valve to allow the excess waste water to discharge to local waters. This is to avoid waste water flooding streets, homes and other properties, including the sewage treatment plants themselves.
To prevent discharges, by the end of the year water companies will have installed monitors on up to 13,000 of the 15,000 sewer overflows in England, with more installations planned afterwards. These monitors will measure how often and for how long overflows operate, helping inform where improvement works are required and providing information to the public about spills. This information has been used to help develop the environmental programme that the water companies will be implementing over the next five years, which includes around £4 billion of investment to reduce pollution from sewage. This environmental programme resulted from discussions between Ministers and water companies.
In addition, the Environment Bill will place a statutory requirement on water companies to produce drainage and sewerage management plans, currently being produced on a non-statutory basis. This will further help water companies identify opportunities to better manage sewage discharges and tackle future risks.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 levels of pollution in the River Wye resulting from the farming of chickens; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The River Wye in England is at risk of failing its conservation target for phosphate in the lower reaches. This is a complex issue and is partly influenced by factors upstream including the River Lugg which discharges into the Wye below Hereford. The Lugg is currently failing its conservation target for phosphate as determined by the EU Habitats Regulations.
Phosphate is the primary cause for many water quality failures and originates from two main sources: discharges from sewage treatment works in accordance with environmental permits and from diffuse agricultural pollution, principally livestock manure, including chicken farming, and nutrients washing into the river during rainfall events.
Permitted poultry farms are obliged to control manure. To protect water quality, the Environment Agency (EA) designates certain at-risk areas as Nitrate Vulnerable Zones which require landowners to follow rules for storing organic manure. The EA also uses Farming Rules for Water regulations which require farmers to keep livestock fertilisers and manures out of the water.
The EA is working with a range of stakeholders and partners, including those in Wales, to address the concerns about phosphate levels in the River Wye. The EA is aware that this is an issue of interest to many, especially as the River Wye Catchment is designated a Special Area of Conservation and Site of Special Scientific Interest.
In addition, the EA continues to investigate reports of algae blooms on the Wye and Lugg which can be toxic to wildlife, people and pets. It will follow these up where necessary.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 participate in the European Parliament's inquiry into the transportation of live animals; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
We welcome the European Parliament's inquiry and we have previously made the European Commission aware of our concerns that the current regulations on protecting animal welfare in transport need to be amended to afford animals better protection. It would be inappropriate for the Government to participate in this inquiry as we are no longer a member of the European Union.
We have a manifesto commitment to end excessively long journeys for live animals going for slaughter and fattening, which is an opportunity we have gained through leaving the EU. We intend to issue a consultation on how we deliver on that commitment in due course.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 it his policy to establish a national nature service; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Environmental organisations make a valuable contribution to the Government's environmental agenda, through conservation of the natural environment; engaging people in the natural world; and providing access to our beautiful landscapes and coastlines.
As we rebuild our economy in response to the coronavirus pandemic, we must continue to shape an economy and society that are cleaner, greener and more resilient. This Government remains committed to the UK being a world leader on tackling the environmental crises we face.
We welcome the range of proposals that have been shared by groups including environmental organisations to deliver a green recovery. We are reviewing these based upon the best use of public funds. Government is also carefully considering the Glover proposals and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 effect on the marine environment of supertrawlers fishing in UK waters; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
No specific assessments have been made of the impact of large trawlers on the marine environment. However, the impact of all fishing activities is taken into account when we assess the status of UK seas and set targets to achieve Good Environmental Status under the UK Marine Strategy. Assessments carried out for the 2019 UK Marine Strategy Part One showed that commercial fishing is one of the predominant pressures preventing good environmental status of UK seas from being achieved. At the end of the transition period, any access by non-UK vessels to fish in UK waters will be a matter for negotiation. Any vessels granted access to fish in our waters, regardless of nationality, will need to abide by UK rules including those on sustainability.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
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 effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the UK's natural environment; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Our efforts to keep coronavirus under control have had follow-on impacts on our natural environment. It is too early to draw detailed conclusions about the impacts of the lockdown, but some trends are developing.
The unprecedented changes in living and working patterns during the coronavirus outbreak are likely to have had an effect on air pollution and could potentially lead to short-term improvements in air quality.
It has been encouraging to see reports that some of our wildlife, including our common mammals and ground nesting birds, may be doing well, venturing into areas where they would not normally be seen. It is similarly encouraging to see reports of wildflowers blooming on roadside verges and land that has not been mown during the lockdown.
Defra will continue to research and develop our understanding of the longer-term implications from these unprecedented changes in living and working patterns. This will ensure we apply that learning to delivering the Clean Air Strategy, 25 Year Environment Plan, the Environment Bill and our approach to the Government’s Net Zero commitment.