Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that his approach to (a) per- and (b) poly-fluoroalkyl substances restrictions takes account of the (i) requirements and (i) time required for the pharmaceutical industry to (A) develop sustainable inhalers and (B) secure regulatory approval for these medicines using novel low global warming potential gases.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra is currently considering measures to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a wide range of industrial and consumer uses under UK REACH. The scope of restriction proposals will be informed by engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, as well as by technical considerations, health and safety factors and the practical feasibility and requirements of adopting non-PFAS alternatives.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 an estimate of the waste incineration plant capacity that is (a) operational, (b) consented but not yet operational and (c) not consented but where a permit application was submitted to the Environment Agency on or before 4 April 2024.
Answered by Mark Spencer
In line with the commitment in the Resources and Waste Strategy to monitor residual waste capacity, Defra officials are currently assessing planned residual waste infrastructure capacity, including Energy from Waste, against expected future residual waste arisings so we can understand what future capacity may be required following implementation of key commitments in the Resources and Waste Strategy. This further assessment of residual waste treatment capacity needs will be published in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of waste incineration plant capacity required to meet the target to reduce residual waste set out in the Environmental Targets (Residual Waste) (England) Regulations 2023.
Answered by Mark Spencer
In line with the commitment in the Resources and Waste Strategy to monitor residual waste capacity, Defra officials are currently assessing planned residual waste infrastructure capacity, including Energy from Waste, against expected future residual waste arisings so we can understand what future capacity may be required following implementation of key commitments in the Resources and Waste Strategy. This further assessment of residual waste treatment capacity needs will be published in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assumptions his Department uses for the percentage of capacity at which consented waste incineration plants operate.
Answered by Mark Spencer
In line with the commitment in the Resources and Waste Strategy to monitor residual waste capacity, Defra officials are currently assessing planned residual waste infrastructure capacity, including Energy from Waste, against expected future residual waste arisings so we can understand what future capacity may be required following implementation of key commitments in the Resources and Waste Strategy. This further assessment of residual waste treatment capacity needs will be published in due course.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 support the development of alternatives to peat-based soils for the professional horticulture sector.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
The Government is supporting the transition to peat-free horticulture, through research & development, and the removal of regulatory barriers. Officials are also exploring how to deliver financial support to the sector to help with the capital costs of new machinery or infrastructure.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 representatives of the professional horticulture sector on plans to ban the sale of horticultural peat.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Ministers and officials have met with the Horticulture Trades Association (HTA) and Royal Horticultural Society in recent months. Further engagement between officials and a range of stakeholders is planned for this month.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what peat-free working exemptions will be in place in the professional horticulture sector from 2026.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Our proposals for time limited technical exemptions were set out in the Defra Media blog on 24 March 2023. We also propose a conservation exemption which will not be time limited. Officials are in ongoing discussions with stakeholders about what other possible technical exemptions may be required.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the average cost to farmers of switching agricultural machinery from using existing plant plugs to non-peat alternatives.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Officials are currently updating our economic Impact Assessment which examines the cost differences in moving away from peat. This includes inputs such as water and fertiliser as well as the capital costs of altering machinery.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the potential cost of the proposed ban on the use of peat by 2030 on the professional horticulture sector.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Officials are currently updating our economic Impact Assessment which examines the cost differences in moving away from peat. This includes inputs such as water and fertiliser as well as the capital costs of altering machinery.
Asked by: James Wild (Conservative - North West Norfolk)
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 trends in the level of (a) water and (b) fertiliser usage for (i) peat and (ii) coir in the growing of plants.
Answered by Rebecca Pow
Officials are currently updating our economic Impact Assessment which examines the cost differences in moving away from peat. This includes inputs such as water and fertiliser as well as the capital costs of altering machinery.