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Written Question
Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: South Shields
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department is taking steps to prevent Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from entering into the environment in South Shields constituency.

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

A Defra report, produced in collaboration with the Environment Agency, conducted a study to determine the levels of PFAS chemicals in estuarine and coastal sediments - Science Search (defra.gov.uk). Results indicate there are a range of different PFAS present in English estuarine sediments, which included the Tyne estuary. Concentrations were found to be low in English estuary sediment. The Environment Agency continues to monitor PFAS in estuaries, and is currently considering levels across the water, biota and sediment.

The Environment Agency have been developing risk profiles for several site types where PFAS release is likely to have occurred or may be ongoing because of different historic and current land uses. This work has provided valuable information about the distribution and sources of PFAS in the environment in England. Several strategies are being developed to manage risk from these sorts of sources and the potential release of PFAS. This risk profiling work has not identified any specific sites in South Shields.

In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and Health and Safety Executive to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA). Defra welcomed the RMOA recently published and is working with its partners to develop the recommendations for risk management measures, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.


Written Question
Per- and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances: South Shields
Thursday 26th October 2023

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to collaborate with (a) water companies and (b) scientific experts on future investment in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances remediation for South Shields.

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

The Environment Agency (EA) has worked with water companies and their research body, UK Water Industry Research, on the Chemicals Investigation Programme (CIP) since 2010. CIP has conducted investigations into PFOS and PFOA, and the CIP3 phase has established their concentrations in sewage works, their catchments and the receiving waters. Based on this work targeted investigations will be conducted in the next phase of CIP, known as CIP4, none of which need to be carried out in South Shields.

In the UK REACH Work Programme for 2021-22, Defra asked the EA and Health and Safety Executive to examine the risks posed by PFAS and develop a 'Regulatory Management Options Analysis' (RMOA). Defra welcomed the RMOA recently published and is working with its partners to develop the recommendations for risk management measures, building on the commitment in the 25 Year Environment Plan to tackle chemicals of concern.


Written Question
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: South Tyneside
Monday 30th January 2023

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much South Tyneside Council has returned to her Department from grants allocated in the last two years.

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

South Tyneside Council has not returned anything to Defra from grants allocated in the last two years.


Written Question
Sewage: Waste Disposal
Monday 17th October 2022

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the statement to the House by his predecessor on 6 September 2022 that removing storm overflows altogether from the sewage system would cost up to £600 billion, Official Report, Column 118, if he will publish a breakdown of those costs.

Answered by Trudy Harrison

The Storm Overflows Evidence Project (SOEP) published in November 2021 shows that eliminating all discharges could cost up to £600 billion. This could increase household bills between £569 and £999 per year and is also highly disruptive and complex to deliver nationwide. This is also referenced in the storm overflows discharge reduction plan impact assessment.

A breakdown of these costs can be found in SOEP here: Storm overflows discharge reduction plan - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).


Written Question
Rivers and Seas and Oceans: Sewage
Thursday 22nd July 2021

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

What steps he is taking to help ensure untreated sewage is not discharged into rivers, inland waterways and the sea.

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

We have set up the Storm Overflows Taskforce which has already resulted in increased investment of £144 million and this Government has amended the Environment Bill to introduce measures on storm overflows. Water companies are currently investing £3.1 billion in storm overflow improvements between 2020 and 2025. On 9 July, Southern Water was fined £90 million for pumping raw sewage into protected waters, the largest ever fine imposed on a water company.


Written Question
Welfare Assistance Schemes: Coronavirus
Tuesday 30th June 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the £63m local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020, what steps he is taking to ensure that the funding is spent by local authorities on local welfare assistance; and what processes his Department plan to use to monitor the effect of that funding on local welfare assistance.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

We will issue guidance to local authorities to make clear that this additional funding is to be spent on local welfare assistance. This guidance will be available imminently, and details of a proportionate approach to monitoring will be outlined within this. The strategic objective of this funding is to support individuals and families who are unable to afford food and other essential items during the Covid-19 pandemic.


Written Question
Welfare Assistance Schemes: Coronavirus
Tuesday 23rd June 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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 15 June 2020 to Question 57983 on Welfare Assistance Schemes; when he plans to make that funding available; and what formula he plans to use to allocate that funding to each local authority.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

We are working at pace to establish an allocation model to focus support where it is most needed and to disburse the money to local authorities as soon as we can.


Written Question
Welfare Assistance Schemes: Coronavirus
Monday 15th June 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the £63 million of local welfare assistance to be used by local authorities announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2020 , what his timescale is for (a) publishing guidance on use of that funding and (b) making that funding available.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Defra will distribute the funding directly to local authorities to ensure they can support people facing severe financial difficulty who may be struggling to afford food and other necessities. Local authorities set the criteria for eligibility for welfare assistance schemes. We recognise that local authorities have set up different structures and schemes to support their communities during COVID-19 according to local need.

This funding is a one-off boost to local authorities in recognition of the fact that some people in our communities are facing sudden and severe financial difficulties. The COVID-19 pandemic is an extraordinary event and it is right that we take extraordinary measures in response to it.


Written Question
Developing a National Food Strategy Independent Review
Thursday 14th May 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish an interim report on the independent review led by Henry Dimbleby entitled Developing a National Food Strategy.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Henry Dimbleby was commissioned to lead an independent review to develop recommendations to shape a National Food Strategy, which will address challenges such as food security, health and climate change.

The independent review was due to publish the National Food Strategy Part 1: Diagnosis and Vision in Spring 2020. This has been delayed to focus efforts on the COVID-19 response. Although no firm date for publication can be given at this time, the National Food Strategy remains a priority for the Government and work will resume as soon as possible.

The Government remains committed to responding to the review’s final recommendations in the form of a White Paper within 6 months of the release of the final report.


Written Question
Food: Coronavirus
Monday 11th May 2020

Asked by: Emma Lewell-Buck (Labour - South Shields)

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 in the covid-19 shielding group receive a Government food parcel every week.

Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General

Currently, over 290,000 food boxes are being delivered to the COVID-19 shielding group each week in England.