Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 help ensure the financial self-sufficiency of the Canal and River Trust.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Memorandum of Understanding between Defra and the C&RT signed on 28 June 2012 has a clear objective: “To reduce dependence on Government Grant and to foster increasing self-sufficiency, by providing access to new charitable income streams and stimulating new efficiencies”. Defra officials have been discussing this with the C&RT for some time and have offered support on how it can increase income from other sources, alongside continued Government funding. The C&RT’s total income has grown by 11% between 2013/14 and 2022/23, while the proportion of that from the Government grant has remained relatively stable over this period at around 24%
The Government currently provides the Canal and River Trust (C&RT) with a grant worth £740 million over the 15 years 2012-2027 that provides roughly a quarter of its income. When the C&RT was set up in 2012, the Government also provided it with a permanent endowment fund now worth over £1 billion that generates a further quarter of its income. On 10 July the Government announced a very substantial £401 million of new grant funding for the C&RT between 2027 and 2037. This is a significant sum of money and a sign of the importance that we place on our inland waterways. It will also support the C&RT in continuing to move towards achieving the original objective of greater self-sufficiency.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the level of funding it provides for the Canal and River Trust; what steps her Department is taking to protect canals; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government’s review of the current grant funding for the Canal and River Trust (C&RT) examined the performance of the C&RT since its establishment in 2012 to assess value for money, and considered the case for continued Government grant funding beyond the end of the current grant period in 2027. The comprehensive and independent evidence-based assessment undertaken during the review drew on Government best practice using cross-government and external expertise, as set out in HM Treasury’s 5-case business case model and the Green Book. Full consideration was given to the evidence provided by the C&RT when assessing the range of benefits it provides. The report on the review of the grant agreement between the Government and the C&RT was published on the gov.uk website on 11 July, available here.
The current 15-year Government grant that ends in 2027 amounts to around £740 million, and the new 10-year grant from 2027 to 2037 announced on 10 July amounts to a further £401 million. This supports the C&RT in maintaining a safe canal network. Specific activities undertaken to achieve that are an operational matter for the C&RT.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 support local and sustainable horticulture.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
At the recent Farm to Fork Summit the Prime Minister made a commitment to maintain food production at current levels, where 60 per cent by value of all the food we need is sourced domestically. A wide range of measures to support the horticulture sector were announced, including a replacement Fruit & Vegetables Aid Scheme for England from 2026. Also announced was a review of the horticulture supply chain to help ensure farmers are paid a fair price for their produce.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 encourage (a) supermarkets and (b) other vendors to sell British-grown flowers.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra meets regularly with food retailers to discuss a range of issues including selling British produce. However, it is not for HM Government to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions by companies.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the implications of the relevant advice from the Expert Committee on Pesticides for her decision to provide temporary emergency authorisation to the pesticide Cruiser SB containing neonicotinoid thiamethoxam.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The decision to grant an emergency authorisation for the use of Cruiser SB on the 2023 sugarbeet crop has not been taken lightly. In making this decision, I considered the evidence and the advice provided by the Health and Safety Executive and Expert Committee on Pesticides, as well as Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser and economists.
This emergency authorisation allows a single use of a neonicotinoid on a single crop under very strict conditions to mitigate risks to pollinators and other insects, as well as mammals and birds.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 is taking to encourage tree planting and conservation work.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
We are committed to planting and establishing 30,000 hectares of new woodland every year in the United Kingdom by the end of this Parliament, backed by the £675 million Nature for Climate Fund. While implementing policy and funding to increase tree planting rates to meet tree planting and net zero targets, we must make sure the right tree is planted in the right place and provides a net benefit to the environment.
The England Trees Action Plan, published in May 2021, set out our plans to deliver our tree planting targets in England, and to make sure that we maximise the benefits of those trees for people, nature and the economy.
As well as establishing new woodlands, we recognise the importance of protecting existing woodlands. We have recently updated the new Keepers of Time policy, providing updates to policy to recognise the value of England’s ancient and native woodlands and ancient and veteran trees. Our Woodlands Into Management innovation funds awarded over £600,000 to successful applicants last year, helping to restore vulnerable woodland habitats, support woodlands to adapt to a changing climate and recover from the impacts of pests and diseases by stimulating innovation.
We also recognise the challenges to our trees and woodlands from rising deer populations and the effect of grey squirrels. This is why work is already underway to address these pressures through the development of a Woodland Resilience Implementation Plan, a national deer management strategy and updating the Grey Squirrel Action Plan.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of postponing the phase out of direct payments to farmers until 2024 in the context of the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on global food production.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
We are not going to change the profile of Direct Payments reductions.
Area based subsidy gave half the farming budget to 10% of landowners. The Basic Payment Scheme did not support food production and did nothing to stop the decline in nature. We must seize the opportunity to establish a different system of rewards and incentives in agriculture. I am pleased that we are supporting farmers with the choices that they make for their own holdings.
Defra has been engaging with industry via various forums to understand significant impacts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on individual industries and supply chains in Defra's sectors. No impacts have been reported that will severely disrupt entire markets.
Last month we announced steps to assist farmers with the availability of fertilisers for the coming growing season, to help address uncertainty amongst growers and help keep costs down for farmers.
The planned changes to the use of urea fertiliser will be delayed by at least a year, helping farmers manage costs and giving them more time to adapt to pressures on the supply of ammonium nitrate fertilisers. We are also encouraging farmers to make use of organic fertilisers. Farmers will be further supported by new slurry storage grants introduced this year.
Alongside this, we have published further details of the early rollout of Sustainable Farming Incentive. The scheme will help farmers move towards more sustainable farming practices over time; supporting farmers to build the health and fertility of their soil, and to reduce soil erosion which are essential for food production, helping to bolster food security and the longer-term resilience of the sector.
Defra will continue to keep the situation under review going forward.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of (a) the effectiveness of existing and (b) potential for further steps to prevent asbestos being disposed of in landfill.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The handling and transport of waste asbestos-containing material is only to be undertaken by specialist asbestos removal contractors, and must be disposed of at a site permitted to accept asbestos-containing materials.
The safest way to dispose of asbestos waste is to an appropriately permitted landfill site, regulated by the Environment Agency in England. Permits for these sites control the site design, quantities of waste and site operation in order to prevent or minimise pollution. Defra has no plans to review the current disposal route.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 is taking to reduce the amount of asbestos sent to landfill.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The handling and transport of waste asbestos-containing material is only to be undertaken by specialist asbestos removal contractors, and must be disposed of at a site permitted to accept asbestos-containing materials.
The safest way to dispose of asbestos waste is to an appropriately permitted landfill site, regulated by the Environment Agency in England. Permits for these sites control the site design, quantities of waste and site operation in order to prevent or minimise pollution. Defra has no plans to review the current disposal route.
Asked by: Gavin Williamson (Conservative - South Staffordshire)
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 officials in his Department have had with officials in (a) Department for Education and (b) horticultural sector on working together to secure a high-quality domestic labour supply for that sector.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Attracting bright new talent into agricultural and horticultural careers and having a skilled workforce in place is vital for the future of UK food and farming. By raising awareness of agriculture as an exciting and attractive career path, people will understand the opportunities available to them.
The Government is contributing towards the establishment of a new professional body, The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). This initiative is aimed at removing the fragmentation that exists within current learning and skills landscape for farming businesses, enabling the industry to drive forward greater uptake of skills, creating clear career development pathways and promoting the sector as a progressive, professional and attractive career choice.
The Government is reforming post-16 technical education to provide clearer routes into skilled employment in agriculture and other sectors. A key part of this is the introduction of the new Technical Level programmes (T-levels). Alongside apprenticeships, these provide more opportunities and pathways for young people looking for careers in horticulture.
Defra continues to speak regularly with the sector and other Government departments, including the Department for Education, to understand labour supply and demand, including both permanent and seasonal workforce requirements, and to ensure there is a long-term strategy for the horticultural workforce.