Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many meetings his Department has had with Natural England on preparations for COP26.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Preparations for the UK Presidency of COP26 are coordinated across Government by the Cabinet Office COP26 Unit, with departments including Defra, BEIS and FCDO and the devolved administrations leading on their areas of policy responsibility. The departments work closely together at ministerial and official levels, to ensure delivery of the best possible outcomes at COP26.
As a Defra Arm's Length Body, Defra holds the relationship with Natural England. Defra also leads on key aspects of the Government's COP26 preparations, including on the Nature Campaign. Defra has therefore led discussions with Natural England on COP26.
BEIS has not met Natural England on preparations for COP26.
Defra has regular meetings with Natural England on COP26, including holding Senior Board level meetings on these issues to ensure Natural England’s input into preparations. These discussions, including Natural England's role in COP26 preparations, will continue in the lead up to COP26.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has for the role of Natural England in preparations for the UK hosting COP26.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Preparations for the UK Presidency of COP26 are coordinated across Government by the Cabinet Office COP26 Unit, with departments including Defra, BEIS and FCDO and the devolved administrations leading on their areas of policy responsibility. The departments work closely together at ministerial and official levels, to ensure delivery of the best possible outcomes at COP26.
As a Defra Arm's Length Body, Defra holds the relationship with Natural England. Defra also leads on key aspects of the Government's COP26 preparations, including on the Nature Campaign. Defra has therefore led discussions with Natural England on COP26.
BEIS has not met Natural England on preparations for COP26.
Defra has regular meetings with Natural England on COP26, including holding Senior Board level meetings on these issues to ensure Natural England’s input into preparations. These discussions, including Natural England's role in COP26 preparations, will continue in the lead up to COP26.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much money from the public purse has been spent on nature based solutions to climate change in each of the last five years.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Nature-based solutions can play a key role in tackling climate change and managing its impacts. Over the last 5 years government has introduced new funding that specifically invests in nature-based solutions in England where climate change mitigation and adaptation is the primary purpose. Details of these specific funding streams are given below.
The UK Government also has a range of existing and funding streams such as Countryside Stewardship and the Green Recovery Challenge Fund that support the restoration of nature in England, and provide multiple benefits for wildlife, climate and people: we have not specifically assessed what proportion of these funding streams has provided nature-based solutions to climate change.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress his Department has made on banning the burning of peatland habitats.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Government has always been clear of the need to phase out rotational burning of protected blanket bog to conserve these vulnerable habitats, and we are looking at how legislation could achieve this. Real progress is being made in promoting sustainable alternatives. We have urged landowners to adopt these and continue to work with them constructively.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
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 take steps to ensure that animal tests on products which have already been tested to EU REACH requirements will not need repeat testing to meet domestic registration.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on 10 September 2020, PQ UIN 86122.[questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2020-09-07/86122]
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
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 21 May 2020 to Question 46205, on Veterinary Services: Cost Effectiveness, if he will make a value for money assessment of out-of-hours veterinary care.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
Defra has no plans to carry out a value for money assessment of out-of-hours veterinary care.
Asked by: Nadia Whittome (Labour - Nottingham East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the value for money of out-of-hours veterinary care.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Department has not made a value for money assessment of out-of-hours veterinary care.