Asked by: Emma Lewell (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
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.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (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 Baroness Prentis of Banbury
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.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (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 Baroness Prentis of Banbury
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.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (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 Baroness Prentis of Banbury
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.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (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 Baroness Prentis of Banbury
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.
Asked by: Emma Lewell (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 Baroness Prentis of Banbury
Currently, over 290,000 food boxes are being delivered to the COVID-19 shielding group each week in England.