Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
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 oral contribution of the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General of 2 November 2016, Official Report, column 879, what progress his Department has made in using the 2011 census classifications that differentiate Gypsies and Travellers.
Answered by George Eustice
The Race Disparity Audit website displays data where possible using the Census 2011 ethnic categories, which includes Gypsy or Irish Traveller.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the Race Disparity Unit work closely together to further progress the harmonisation of ethnicity data across the Government Statistical Service (GSS) and to improve the coverage of ethnic groups including Gypsy, Roma and Travellers.
The Race Disparity Audit Inter Ministerial Group chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster discusses matters pertaining to the progress of the Race Disparity Audit, including on the collection of ethnicity data.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
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 include a commitment to reaching World Health Organisation limits for particulate matter in the new clean air strategy.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse, Jim Fitzpatrick, on 16 February 2018, PQ 126553.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
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 include a target to reduce premature deaths from air pollution in the new clean air strategy.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to the hon. Member for Poplar and Limehouse, Jim Fitzpatrick, on 16 February 2018, PQ 126553.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
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 Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture of his Department’s Corporate Report, Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, published on 14 December 2017, what plans the Government has for tackling household food insecurity in the UK.
Answered by George Eustice
The proportion of household income spent on food by the poorest 20% of households has remained constant at around 16% since 2008.
The Government is committed to providing a strong safety net to those who need it through a well established system of hardship payments and benefit advances.
The UK has a high degree of food security as shown by the 2010 UK Food Security Assessment which analysed the different national and global factors impacting on UK food supply. We have recently commenced a review of the assessment.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the criteria are for successful applications by local authorities for funding from the Government's Clean Air Fund.
Answered by Baroness Coffey
The Government has announced a Clean Air Fund, which will allow local authorities to bid for additional money to support the implementation of measures to improve air quality. This could include interventions such as improvements to local bus fleets, support for concessionary travel and more sustainable modes of transport such as cycling, or infrastructure changes. These interventions could enable local authorities to avoid the imposition of restrictions on vehicles, such as charging zones. To ensure the Fund fits the specific needs of each local area there will be a competitive process through which local authorities bid for support.
As set out in the air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in UK, the Government will provide further detail on the Clean Air Fund later this year.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with other Departments on continued funding for EU structural and investment projects that provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities signed since the Autumn Statement 2016.
Answered by George Eustice
My Department is in regular contact with all Government departments responsible for European Structural and Investment Funds. All Rural Development Programme and European and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund projects signed to date deliver value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities and will be guaranteed by the Government after the UK leaves to EU.
Asked by: Kate Green (Labour - Stretford and Urmston)
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 UN Sustainable Development Goal 2.1 to by 2030 end hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round, what steps his Department is taking to meet that target.
Answered by George Eustice
Global food security is dependent on a number of factors including increasing production sustainably, reducing waste and ensuring open markets around the world to facilitate trade.
The UK currently has a high degree of food security as shown by the 2010 UK Food Security Assessment. This is a comprehensive piece of work, covering all aspects of food security, including international trade and global resource sustainability. We have just commenced a review of the Assessment which will draw on a wide range of evidence sources.